Green Synthesis of Antioxidant and Degradable Biomass-Based Preservative Films for Efficient Strawberry Preservation

Utilizing biological resources facilitates alleviating energy shortage and environmental pollution problems. This work aims to develop edible packaging material that performs well and can be used for fresh fruit preservation. Tea polyphenol (TP) was successfully added to a composite-forming solution of tobacco stem cellulose (TSC) and xanthan gum (XG) to synthesize greenly the TSC/XG/TP composite film. Subsequently, the effects of TP dosage on the physicochemical and functional properties of TSC/XG/TP composite films were systematically evaluated. Results showed that the tensile strength (7.89 MPa) and elongation at break (5.27%) were maximums when the optimum TP dosage of 0.4% composite film was achieved. In addition, water vapor and oxygen barrier properties were increased by 159.57 and 7.50%, respectively, and the antioxidant activity was also enhanced by 251.59%. The composite film could maintain the strawberries’ appearance excellently and effectively inhibit color deterioration, thereby delaying postharvest decay, weight loss, and softening. It naturally follows that strawberries’ freshness is prolonged up to 14 days. Practical applications of composite films in preserving fresh strawberries have also shown positive results, making it possible as a potential food packaging material.