3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane modified zein electrospun membrane for ethylene removal and its application to banana preservation

Ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), a natural plant hormone, accelerates the ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables (F&V), posing significant challenges to their post-harvest preservation. Herein, we develop a C 2 H 4 scavenging nanofiber membrane by chemically modifying zein (ZN) with (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane (MPTES). This modification reduces the hydroxyl content while introducing sulfhydryl groups on zein chain. The typical membrane of ZN-MPTES3 demonstrates excellent hydrophobic property with a water contact angle (WCA) of > 140°, and can maintain structural integrity after 24 h of water immersion. Additionally, the MPTES grafting enhances the membrane's roughness. At 25 °C, the ZN-MPTES3 membrane effectively extends the shelf-life of bananas through a thiol-ene click reaction with C 2 H 4 , which is accelerated under UV exposure (365 nm), further enhancing the preservation efficacy. These results demonstrate the potential of the ZN-MPTES electrospun membrane as a sustainable and effective platform for the preservation of post-harvest F&V.