In this study, hazelnut shell-based vegetable carbon black (HCB) was synthesized from renewable agricultural waste and incorporated into chitosan (CS) and gelatin (GEL) matrices to fabricate active packaging films. The structure of HCB was characterized, and the structure, physicochemical properties, antibacterial activity, ultraviolet resistance, and functional performance of CS-GEL-HCB films with varying HCB contents (0, 1, 5, and 9 wt% based on GEL) were systematically investigated. The FT-IR results revealed that intermolecular hydrogen bonds were formed between HCB and CS and GEL. The results showed that the tensile strength of CS-GEL film (15.83 ± 0.40~32.06 ± 0.61 MPa), as well as its water vapor and oxygen barrier properties (0.55 ± 0.03~0.15 ± 0.02 g/d·m2), and UV-visible light barrier properties were significantly improved (p< 0.05) after the addition of HCB, while the water permeability, moisture content, and water solubility of CS-GEL film were effectively reduced (24.84 ± 0.45~20.10 ± 0.45%). More importantly, the CS-GEL-HCB film exhibited enhanced ultraviolet barrier properties, which helped delay the oxidation and deterioration of the oil sample during the accelerated light oxidation test. These results suggest that the CS-GEL-HCB film could serve as an effective food packaging material to improve the oxidation stability of soybean oil in the food industry, showing great potential in maintaining food quality and extending shelf life.
Hazelnut shell, an agricultural waste, was used to prepare activated carbons by phosphoric acid activation. Hazelnut shell derived activated carbon (HSAC) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, and was used as an adsorbent for the removal of three tetracycline (TC) antibiotics (tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC)) from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying the initial concentrations of TCs, pH of solution, ionic strength of solution, contact time and temperature. 20 min was required to attain equilibrium. There was no significant influence of ionic strength in a range from 0.0001 to 1 mol L−1 and pH in the range of 4–8 on the uptakes of TCs by the HSAC. The maximum adsorption capacities of the HSAC followed the sequence OTC (321.5 mg g−1) > CTC (313.5 mg g−1) > TC (302.9 mg g−1). The data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir models. The intraparticle diffusion model indicated that the adsorption of TCs on the HSAC was controlled by both intraparticle diffusion and external mass transfer. Under the test temperature and pressure, the thermodynamic constants revealed that the adsorption of TCs onto the HSAC was spontaneous and endothermic. The HSAC had relatively high potential for the removal of TCs from aqueous solution.