The gradual replacement of petrochemical derivatives with sustainable alternatives is fundamental to reducing environmental impact. Biopolymers such as potato starch stand out for their low cost, biodegradability and sustainability, however, they exhibit hydrophilic properties, leading to poor water resistance and necessitating modifications for improved performance. This study investigated the use of the anionic surfactant saponified sunflower oil (SSO) in the formulation of potato starch films, evaluating its effects on the polymer network and film properties. The films were prepared using the casting method with different dosages of SSO (0.01 g, 0.02 g, 0.04 g, 0.06 g and 0.08 g). Properties such as water vapor permeability (WVP), mechanical behavior, and optical characteristics were analyzed. Micelle formation in the polymer matrix generated vacancies, increasing WVP. At low concentrations, there was a reduction of up to 47.82% in WVP, attributed to the interaction of polar groups in the biopolymer with surfactant monomers, without compromising optical properties. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elasticity, improved at micellar concentrations, to 22.80 MPa and 62.16% respectively. Moreover, this study suggests that the use of additional lipophilic agents may be avoided, reducing costs and broadening post-harvest preservation applications as fruit coatings that extend shelf life.

Sugar apples are climacteric fruits that had a rapid deterioration due to their high respiration rate and ethylene production, making the application of postharvest technologies essential for extending their shelf life. The objective of this study was to develop an edible coating using carrageenan (CR), beeswax nanoparticle (BW) and titanium dioxide (TD) to extend the shelf life of sugar apples, using ultraviolet (UV) light, to maintain their shelf life at 15 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 1% RH for 12 days. The addition of BW and TD in CR films allowed us to obtain good barrier properties in different concentrations. Based on the results obtained for the water vapor permeability (WVP) value, a concentration of 1.52% of TD and 27.3% of BW was chosen. Coated sugar apples with 1.52% of TD irradiated with UV light managing to delay respiration until day 5 and maintain physical-chemical qualities and visual appearance for nine days, concluding that the edible coating of CR and TD, in the presence of UV light, can extend the shelf life of sugar apples for nine days at 15 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 1% RH.

O gerenciamento adequado dos resíduos de serviços de saúde é um tema de crescente importância devido aos impactos significativos que esses resíduos podem gerar, tanto para a saúde pública quanto para o meio ambiente. A insuficiência de informações sobre o descarte adequado, ocasiona o descarte incorreto, realizado no lixo comum ou esgoto doméstico, resultando na contaminação de fontes de água potável, com estudos demonstrando a presença de resíduos farmacêuticos nessas águas. No Brasil, as iniciativas voltadas à coleta de medicamentos ainda são limitadas, evidenciando a necessidade de uma política nacional mais robusta. O aumento no consumo de medicamentos, impulsionado pelo envelhecimento populacional e pelo crescimento da indústria farmacêutica, agrava a problemática, com grandes quantidades de medicamentos sendo descartadas de forma inadequada. O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar o comportamento da população rural em relação ao descarte de medicamentos e propor estratégias educativas que promovam práticas corretas de descarte, visando incentivar uma mudança cultural significativa na maneira como a sociedade lida com os resíduos farmacêuticos, incentivando praticas mais conscientes e sustentáveis.

Edible coatings based on cassava starch (CS) can reduce postharvest losses, although their high hydrophilicity limits barrier performance. This study investigated CS films plasticized with glycerol and modified with saponified sunflower oil (SSO) as an anionic surfactant. Film-forming formulations with different SSO contents were prepared, characterized, and subsequently applied as coatings on Tahiti lime (Citrus latifolia) to evaluate their effectiveness during storage. Increasing SSO content enhanced film transparency without promoting undesirable yellowing. Its effect on water resistance, however, was non-linear: the formulation containing 0.01 g SSO reduced water vapor permeability by 41.09% relative to the surfactant-free film, whereas the highest SSO level maintained the hydrophilic character of the matrix but increased flexibility, with elongation at break rising by 98.29% and elastic modulus decreasing by 52.45%. Structural and microstructural analyses indicated that SSO modified matrix organization, reducing crystallinity and altering surface homogeneity. Principal component analysis of film properties reinforced this behavior, isolating the 0.01 g SSO formulation as the only one combining minimum water vapor permeability and maximum contact angle. When applied to Tahiti lime stored at 25 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5% RH, this coating showed the most favorable overall postharvest performance, reducing weight loss and delaying visual and physicochemical deterioration. Multivariate analysis of postharvest data confirmed a more favorable intermediate-storage trajectory for this treatment, whereas the highest SSO level showed a distinct late-storage acid/ascorbate profile consistent with greater fungal incidence.