Graphene oxide enhanced nanocellulose/chitosan biodegradable aerogel pad for fresh pork preservation

Abstract This study aimed to to prepare a degradable bacteriostatic aerogel pad that can absorb pork exudate extension for long pork shelf life. The addition of Graphene oxide(GO) was used to improve the bacteriostatic and mechanical characteristics of nanocellulose(CNC) and chitosan(CTS) matrix materials, and the bacteriostatic aerogel was obtained by freeze-drying technique. The results showed that when GO concentration was 0.4wt%, the antibacterial aerogel network had uniform structure, good mechanical properties and water/oil adsorption, and exhibited effective growth and reproduction inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Under the condition of 4℃, the bacteriostatic aerogel with 0.4wt% GO could be used as the packaging pad of fresh pork, absorbed the juice oozed during the storage process of pork, prolonged the fresh pork's shelf life and postponed the color, pH, and TVB-N changes.