Antioxidative,
Hemocompatible, Fluorescent Carbon
Nanodots from an “End-of-Pipe” Agricultural Waste: Exploring
Its New Horizon in the Food-Packaging Domain
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Abstract
The attention of researchers is burgeoning
toward oilseed press-cake
valorization for its high protein content. Protein removal from oil-cakes
generates large quantities of fibrous residue (oil-and-protein spent
meal) as a byproduct, which currently has very limited practical utility.
In the wake of increasing awareness in waste recycling, a simple environmentally
benign hydrothermal carbonization process to convert this “end-of-pipe”
waste (spent meal) into antioxidative, hemocompatible, fluorescent
carbonaceous nanoparticles (FCDs) has been described. In the present
investigation, an interesting application of FCDs in fabricating low-cost
rapeseed protein-based fluorescent film, with improved antioxidant
potential (17.5–19.3-fold) and thermal stability has been demonstrated.
The nanocomposite film could also be used as forgery-proof packaging
due to its photoluminescence property. For assessing the feasibility
of antioxidative FCDs in real food systems, a comparative investigation
was further undertaken to examine the effect of such nanocarbon-loaded
composite film on the oxidative shelf life of rapeseed oil. Oil samples
packed in nanocomposite film sachets showed significant delay in oxidative
rancidity compared to those packed in pristine protein-film sachet
(free fatty acids, peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive
substances reduced up to 1.4-, 2-, and 1.2-fold, respectively). The
work presents a new concept of biobased fluorescent packaging and
avenues for harnessing this potent waste