Abstract

Ethylene regulates the rapid ripening of numerous climacteric fruits (e.g., banana, tomato, mango, and avocado). Minimization of ethylene formation and action in fruits during harvest or at any stage along the supply chain has become an important approach to prolong storage periods and minimize postharvest losses. Active packaging with ethylene scavengers has been proven to extend the shelf life of climacteric fruits; however, a cost-effective and sustainable solution is needed. Biochar-derived ethylene scavengers offer a promising approach to minimize postharvest losses, along with the valorization of abundant organic residues. This study produced and characterized biochars from two different feedstocks (i.e., hammer-milled boxboard (HMB) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS)) and evaluated their ethylene adsorption capabilities for shelf-life extension of fruits. The organic biomasses were pyrolyzed at 500°C and 800°C under nitrogen. A shelf-life experiment using bananas was used to evaluate the ripening delay effect of biochar. Irrespective of the feedstock, increasing pyrolysis temperature decreased the biochar yield. Both feedstock and pyrolysis conditions affected the ethylene absorption capacity of biochar. SMS biochar outperformed HMB biochar with results similar to those of a commercial ethylene absorber. A* (red-green value in spectrodensitometer) was the best parameter to measuring the ripening over time. This study demonstrates that HMB- and SMS-derived biochars can serve as renewable and locally accessible ethylene scavengers, offering a sustainable approach to extend fruit shelf life.

Publication Date

8-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Packaging Science(MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Packaging Science

College

College of Engineering Technology

Advisor

Carlos Diaz-Acosta

Advisor/Committee Member

Sneh Bangar

Advisor/Committee Member

Bilge Altay

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Download

Share

COinS