The present disclosure is directed to poly-albumen polymer based edible film for fruit and vegetable preservation and methods for use thereof. This multifunctional bionanocomposite is comprised largely of egg-derived polymers and cellulose nanomaterials as a conformal coating onto fresh produce that slows down food decay by retarding ripening, dehydration, and microbial invasion. The coating is edible, washable, and made from readily available inexpensive or waste materials which makes it a promising economic alternative to commercially available fruit coatings and a solution to combat food wastage that is rampant in the world.

The present invention relates to an ultraviolet sterilization box that disinfects household items such as food, electronics, wallets, keys, sunglasses, etc., and eradicates said items of germs, viruses, bacteria, and other airborne pathogens. The ultraviolet sterilization box includes a bottom surface and four walls extending vertically from the bottom surface that form an enclosed space to store a plurality of items for disinfection. A lid pivotally connected to one wall is configured to cover the enclosed space and one or more UV-C lamps on the interior surfaces of the walls, bottom surface, and the lid provide UV-C radiation from all directions to maximize the exposure of the articles within the enclosed space for sterilization. The UV sterilization box features a timing circuit that enable the UV-C lamps to automatically turn OFF after a predetermined period of time, or manually using a control button, or through a sensor.

The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for improving storage and/or transportation of food, flowers, plants, or the like.

Compositions for forming protective coatings can include a first group of compounds, where each compound of the first group is a fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The compositions can optionally include a second group of compounds selected from fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first group can function as emulsifiers, allowing the composition to be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second group can function as welling agents in order to improve the surface wetting of items to be coated when solutions, suspensions, or colloids that include the compositions are applied to the items.

Compositions for forming protective coatings can include a first group of compounds, where each compound of the first group is a fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The compositions can optionally include a second group of compounds selected from fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first group can function as emulsifiers, allowing the composition to be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second group can function as welling agents in order to improve the surface wetting of items to be coated when solutions, suspensions, or colloids that include the compositions are applied to the items.

The present application is directed to a compound having the Formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as described herein. The present application is also directed to a wax composition comprising a wax and a compound of Formula (I). Processes of making a wax composition and for coating a plant or plant part with the compound of Formula (I) are also described.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to plant extract compositions and methods to isolate cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, and mixtures thereof for application in agricultural coating formulations, and in particular, to methods of preparing plant extract compositions that include functionalized and non-functionalized fatty acids and fatty esters (as well as their oligomers and mixtures thereof), which are substantially free from accompanying plant-derived compounds (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, phenols, lignans, aromatic acids, terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, alcohols, alkanes, and aldehydes) and can be used in agricultural coating formulations.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to plant extract compositions and methods to isolate cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, and mixtures thereof for application in agricultural coating formulations, and in particular, to methods of preparing plant extract compositions that include functionalized and non-functionalized fatty acids and fatty esters (as well as their oligomers and mixtures thereof), which are substantially free from accompanying plant-derived compounds (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, phenols, lignans, aromatic acids, terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, alcohols, alkanes, and aldehydes) and can be used in agricultural coating formulations.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition for use in forming films or coatings that prevent damage in foodstuffs, including plants, fruits, and vegetables. The disclosed compositions comprise a cellulose nanomaterial and can further comprise a nanoscale mineral compound and one or more additional components. Also disclosed are films or coatings made using the disclosed compositions, as well as methods for making the disclosed compositions and methods for using the disclosed compositions.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition for use in forming films or coatings that prevent damage in foodstuffs, including plants, fruits, and vegetables. The disclosed compositions comprise a cellulose nanomaterial and can further comprise a nanoscale mineral compound and one or more additional components. Also disclosed are films or coatings made using the disclosed compositions, as well as methods for making the disclosed compositions and methods for using the disclosed compositions.