Maharashtra Board Class 11 Food Science and Technology Chapter 15 Nano Technology PDF Download

Nano Technology

Nanotechnology is the science of very small materials that has a big impact in food sector. It is newly emerging novel technique that can increase the shelf life of foods, minimizes the spoilage and ensures the food safety.

Nanoparticles based food packages provide improved barrier, mechanical and antimicrobial properties that helps in preserving sensory qualities such as taste, colour, flavour, texture, apperance, consistency and also nutrients of food product.

Edible nanolaminates could have applications in fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery products and confectionery, where they might protect the food from loss of moisture, lipids, gasses, off-flavours and odours.

Food packages embedded with nanosensors can alert consumers when a product is no longer safe to eat. Intelligent food packaging, incorporating nanosensors, could even provide consumers with information on the state of the food inside.

Nanotechnology offers tremendous opportunities for innovative developments in food processing and packaging that can benefit both consumers and industry.

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the science, engineering and technology conducted at nanoscale which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.

Understanding and control of matter at nanoscale.

Nano: Derived from greek word 'nanos'-DWARF.

1 Nano = billionth of a meter of 10-9 of a meter.

Father of Nanotechnology: Richard Feynman.

Definition

Nanotechnology is defined as the study and use of structures between range of 1 nanometer (nm) and 100 nm in size. For example, it would take eight hundred of nanometer particles side by side to match the width of a human hair.

Researchers have been studying and working with nanoparticles for centuries, but the effectiveness of their work has been hampered by their inability to see the structure of nanoparticles.

The following illustration provides a comparison of various objects to help to understand the size of nanomaterials. The chart starts with objects that can be seen by the unaided eye, such as an ant, at the top of the chart, and progresses to objects about a nanometer or less in size, such as the ATP molecule used in humans to store energy from food.

Teacher's Note

Nanotechnology is used to keep food fresh longer. Just like how your mother keeps food in the fridge to keep it fresh, nano packets do the same thing but in a smarter way.

Exam Trick

Remember: 1 nano = billionth of a meter. Think of it like dividing one meter into one billion pieces. One piece is one nanometer. It is extremely small!

Points to Remember

Nanotechnology is the study of very small things called nanoparticles.
One nanometer is one billionth of a meter.
Nano particles are so small that 800 of them together equal the width of human hair.
Richard Feynman is the father of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology helps keep food fresh and safe to eat.

Development of Innovative Products

Nanotechnology being applied in the formation of encapsulation, emulsions, biopolymer matrices, simple solutions, and association colloids offer efficient delivery systems with all the above-mentioned qualities.

To improve taste, texture and consistency, numbers of nanostructured food ingredients are being developed.

Food Processing

The importance of nanotechnology in food processing can be evaluated by considering its role in the improvement of food products in terms of (i) food texture, (ii) food appearance, (iii) food taste, (iv) nutritional value of the food, and (v) food shelf-life.

Texture, taste and appearance of food nanotechnology provides a range of options to improve the food quality and also helps in enhancing food taste.

Nano Additives

Nano particles are being used as food additives which makes the food to stay away from microbial contamination hence lengthening the lifespan.

Nanoscale food additives may be used to influence product shelf life, texture, flavour, nutrient composition, or even detect food pathogens and provide functions as food quality indicators.

Sensors for Detection of Contamination

Nanotechnology is used to make nanosensors which will enable rapid testing of raw and processed food products in factory and during transpotation.

Nanosensors can be used to prove the presence of contaminants, mycotoxins, and microorganisms in food. Electronic nose recently available is the best example of nanotechnology based sensor.

Teacher's Note

Nanosensors are like tiny detectives in food packets. They can catch harmful germs before you eat the food, just like how your school guards check your bag before you enter.

Exam Trick

Remember: Nano sensors = very small detectors. They find bad things in food. Think of them as tiny police looking for germs in your food packet.

Points to Remember

Nanoparticles help food stay fresh for longer time.
Nano additives stop germs from growing in food.
Nanosensors can detect if food is safe to eat.
Nanotechnology improves the taste, colour and texture of food.
Nano materials are so small that they cannot be seen by our eyes.

15.1 Applications of Nanotechnology in the Food Industry

Scientist specified some areas of food processing which are as follows:

Food Security

Nanotechnology provides better food security by application to all compentent of food chain from farm to fork. These component include farm inputes, farm production system, post harvest management, processing, maket and finally consumers.

Protection Against Spoilage

Shelf life of food materials can be enhanced with the help of nanotechnology and helps to reduces wastage up to certain extent occurred due to microbial spoilage.

Improve Production of Food Crops

Nanotechnology provides new agrochemical agents and new delivery mechanism to improve crop productivity and it reduces the pesticides use.

Teacher's Note

Nano technology helps farmers grow better crops with less poison. This is good for our health and good for the environment where we live.

Exam Trick

Remember: Food security from farm to fork. This means from where the vegetable grows in the field to when you eat it at home. Nano helps at every step.

Points to Remember

Nanotechnology helps food stay fresh and not get spoiled.
It reduces wastage of food due to germs.
It helps farmers grow crops with less harmful chemicals.
It keeps food safe from farm to our dining table.
Nano particles protect food from getting bad smell and taste.

15.2 Applications of Nanotechnology in Food Packaging

Nano polymers are trying to replace conventional materials in food packaging. The ideal packaging material should have high barrier properties against gas and moisture along with strength and biodegradability (ecofriendly).

A nano material helps to improves barrier properties along with improved mechanical strength.

Nano-based "smart" and "active" food packagings confer several advantages than the conventional packaging from providing better packaging material with improved mechanical strength, barrier properties, antimicrobial properties to nanosensing for pathogen detection and alerting consumers to the safety status of food.

Application of nano-composites as an active material for packaging and material coating can also be used to improve food packaging.

Food nano packaging classification and functions are indicated in Fig. 15.3.

Examples of Nanotechnology in Food Packaging

Antibodies attached to nanoparticles to detect chemicals or food borne pathogens.

Biodegradable nanosensors for temperature, moisture and time monitoring.

Nanoclays and nanofilms as barrier materials to prevent spoilage and prevent oxygen absorption.

Electrochemical nanosensors to detect ethylene gas liberated during ripening.

Antimicrobial and antifungal surface coating with nanoparticles.

Teacher's Note

Nano packaging is like a smart guard for your food. It watches the food and tells you if it is still good to eat or has become bad. It is much smarter than normal packets.

Exam Trick

Remember: Smart packaging = packaging that can talk. It tells you the temperature, if food is fresh, if germs are there. It is like a friend watching your food.

Points to Remember

Nano packaging is much stronger and better than normal packets.
Smart packaging can tell when food is no longer safe to eat.
Nano packets keep food fresh by stopping air and water from entering.
Active packaging kills germs that try to spoil the food.
Nano packaging is good for our earth because it can break down easily.

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