Quality assessment of lemon (Citrus aurantifolia, swingle) coated with self-healed multilayer films based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose under cold storage conditions

The polyelectrolyte multilayer self-healing coating film of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose (PEM-SH) tended to maintain high sensory quality and control physiological and pathological decay of lemon fruits under cold storage. The PEM-SH film was characterized by ATR-IR, XRD, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM analysis, swelling ratio, self-healing, and mechanical characteristics. The 3-layered film (3L) exhibited the optimum barrier properties; WVP: 3.32 ± 0.06 g. mm. k Pa-1.h-1.m-2 and GTR: 0.256 ± 0.032 cc.M-2.day-1. The moisture sorption isotherm data were fitted with BET, GAB, and Peleg models and three models showed applicability. The coated fruits exhibit superior features of fruit quality such as reduced weight loss %, respiration rate, and decay symptoms appearance. The 3L-coated fruit showed the lower pectinase enzyme activity (0.689 Ug-1 FW) up to 60 days. As well as, increased total soluble solids, keeping vitamin C of loss and decreasing percentage acidity of juice up to 60 days.