Halochromic inks applied on cardboard for food spoilage monitorization

• Autor(a) principal: Leite, Liliana
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Boticas, Inês, Navarro, Miguel, Nobre, Luís, Bessa, João, Cunha, Fernando, Neves, Pedro, Fangueiro, Raúl
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/80790
• topic: Smart materials; Intelligent packaging; Halochromic inks; Food packaging; Food quality; Food spoilage; Engenharia e Tecnologia::Engenharia dos Materiais; Science & Technology

Control of food spoilage is a critical concern in the current world scenario, not only to ensure the quality and safety of food but also to avoid the generation of food waste. This paper evaluates a dual-sensor strategy using six different pH indicators stamped on cardboard for the detection of spoilage in three different foods: beef, salmon, and strawberries. After function validation and formulation optimizations in the laboratory, the halochromic sensors methyl orange and bromocresol purple 2% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>) were stamped on cardboard and, in contact with the previously mentioned foods, were able to produce an easily perceptible signal for spoilage by changing color. Additionally, when it comes to mechanical characterization the inks showed high abrasion (>100 cycles) and adhesion resistance (>91%).