Maria Carmen Garrigós

• PhD in Chemistry
• Professor (Full) at University of Alicante

In this study, a historically significant journal subject to fungal colonization was used as a case study for experimenting with a fumigation treatment using essential oils. The experiments were carried out both in vitro and in vivo directly on the artifact. Post-treatment monitoring showed that the succession of two fumigation treatments (alternat...

Egeria densa (ED) is a submerged aquatic macrophyte native to South America. This herb is invasive in many countries and grows very rapidly, causing serious environmental and economic problems. This work aimed to characterize the chemical composition, polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity of ED. This plant showed high contents of polysaccha...

This study aimed to enhance the properties and compostability of active poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films by incorporating β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). Films were prepared using melt extrusion and characterized based on their structural, chemical, morphological, thermal, and barrier properties. These inclu...

Date seeds, often discarded during industrial processing, are an underexploited by-product rich in polyphenols with significant antioxidant potential. This study explores the extraction of polyphenols from date seeds using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with an organic solvent. The extraction process was optimized using response surface method...

This study aimed to enhance the properties and compostability of active poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films by incorporating β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). Films were prepared via melt extrusion and characterized by their structural, chemical, morphological, thermal and barrier properties. These inclusion comp...

Rugulopteryx okamurae (RO) is a species of brown seaweed that has invaded several shorelines worldwide, including the Spanish Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar coasts, causing serious environmental and economic problems. This work aimed to characterize the bioactive composition of RO. A high content of carbohydrates (58.7 ± 2.6 wt%), fats (...

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) is a very effective and sustainable method for extracting cellulose from lignocellulosic materials due to the substantial reduction in the process time and amounts of solvents required for each process. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are used for cellulose extraction due to their environmental friendliness and high...

This book aims to inform readers about the latest trends in environment-friendly extraction techniques in food analysis. Fourteen edited chapters cover relevant topics. These topics include a primer green food analysis and extraction, environment-friendly solvents, (such as deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, and supramolecular solvents), and di...

Analysis of the oxidative stability of novel avocado chips with added natural extracts was carried out with the aim of reducing the chemical additive content in their formulation. Two different natural extracts were initially evaluated and characterized: one obtained from olive pomace (OE) and other from pomegranate seed waste. OE was selected due...

Blending Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a promising strategy to enhance the properties of biodegradable materials. However, these compounds are thermodynamically immiscible and, consequently, compatibilization is required during polymer blending. Reinforced biocomposites can be obtained by adding agricultural wastes gener...

Almond (Prunus amygdalus) is one of the most common tree nuts on a worldwide basis. This nut is highly regarded in the food and cosmetic industries. However, for all these applications, almonds are used without their shell protection, which is industrially removed contributing approximately 35-75% of the total fruit weight. This residue is normally...

Background Rice plants generate a large amount of straw after harvesting, which is currently managed mainly by incineration or used as animal bedding, animal fodder or wrapping of materials during transport. Other technological uses, such as the production of energy and biofuels, pulp and paper production or construction materials have also been de...

Tomato seed (TS) wastes are obtained in large amounts from the tomato processing industry. In this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of antioxidant compounds from TS were optimized by using response surface methodology. The effect of MAE and UAE main extraction parameters was studied on total phenoli...

The use of agro-industrial wastes to obtain compounds with a high added-value is increasing in the last few years in accordance with the circular economy concept. In this work, a cascade extraction approach was developed based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for tomato, watermelon, and apple peel wastes. The protein and antioxidant compound...

This work proposes the revalorization of almond shell (AS) wastes as an active additive for food packaging applications. A new microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method to obtain extracts rich in polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity was optimized. An experimental design to optimize the MAE procedure through response surface method...

In this work, lipids and bioactive compounds from tomato seed by-products were extracted and compared by using advanced extraction techniques, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The influence of different extraction parameters, including extraction temperature (T), time (t) and solvent volume (V) f...

Nowadays, hemp farmers are facing an urgent problem related to plant stem disposal after seed harvesting. In this work, the commonly discarded epidermis and cuticle of hemp stems were valorized, turning them towards a sustainable recycling and reuse, contributing to the circular economy concept. Cellulose deprived of amorphous regions was obtained...

Tiger nut is highly appreciated in the Mediterranean basin by the large number of nutritional advantages offered by a beverage, called “horchata,” which is directly obtained from the tuber of Cyperus esculentus L. However, the current tiger nut harvesting and processing practices generate a large number of residues, mainly a solid by-product after...

The paper tissue industry is a constantly evolving sector that supplies markets that require products with different specific properties. In order to meet the demand of functional properties, ensuring a green approach at the same time, research on bio-coatings has been very active in recent decades. The attention dedicated to research on functional...

Aloe vera skin (AVS) is a major by-product of Aloe processing plants all over the world. In this study, response surface methodology was used to optimize microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of bioactive compounds from AVS. The influence of extraction parameters, such as ethanol concentration (%Et), extraction temperature (T), time (t) and solvent v...

In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/gelatin/PLA multilayer films supplemented with cellulose nanocrystals and antioxidant extract from almond shell (AS) by-products were developed by solvent casting technique for active food packaging. The almond shell antioxidant extract (ASE) was obtained by microwave-assisted extraction, while cellulose nanocr...

In the present work, anthocyanin (ACN) hybrid nanopigments were synthetized by using a natural pomegranate dye (PD) and calcined hydrotalcite (HT) and montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclays. A wide colour gamut was obtained with MMT-based nanopigments ranging from reddish to bluish hues caused by structural transformations of ACNs at different pH values....

The effect of different cooking processes such as frying and roasting on the oxidative stability of sunflower seeds was evaluated under accelerated oxidation and normal storage conditions. The fatty acid composition by GC-MS showed a higher amount of linoleic acid in fried samples due to the replacement of the seed moisture by the frying oil. On th...

One strategy to decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections is to avoid the survival of pathogens in the environment by the development of surfaces with antimicrobial activity. To study the antibacterial behaviour of active surfaces, different approaches have been developed of which ISO 22916 is the standard. To assess the performance of...

The consumption of minimally processed fresh vegetables has increased by the consumer’s demand of natural products without synthetic preservatives and colorants. These new consumption behaviors have prompted research on the combination of emulsion techniques and coatings that have traditionally been used by the food industries. This combination bri...

The interest and societal demand for the use of natural, biodegradable, and renewable resources have increased in the last few years. Also, food producers and consumers have improved their requirements for the quality of processed food, particularly in the field of increasing shelf-life while preserving organoleptic and nutritional properties. Acti...

In this work, pectin-based active films with a cocoa bean shell extract, obtained after waste valorisation of residues coming from the chocolate production process, and zinc oxide/zinc nanoparticles (ZnO/Zn-NPs) at different concentrations, were obtained by casting. The effect of the active additive incorporation on the thermal, barrier, structural...

Natural dyes obtained from agro-food waste can be considered promising substitutes of synthetic dyes to be used in several applications. With this aim, in the present work, we studied the use of chlorophyll dye (CD) extracted from broccoli waste to obtain hybrid nanopigments based on calcined hydrotalcite (HT) and montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclays. T...

In this work, a cascade approach to obtain different valuable fractions from lemon peels waste was optimised using microwave-assisted processes. Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) with a Clevenger apparatus was firstly used to obtain the lemon essential oil (LEO). The remaining residue was then submitted to microwave-assisted extraction (M...

Active edible films based on corn starch containing glycerol as a plasticizer and an olive extract obtained from Spanish olive fruit (Olea europaea) by-products (olive extract; OE) at different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 wt%) were prepared by using the casting technique and further solvent-evaporation. OE showed high total phenolic and fl...

Edible films based on the addition of Aloe Vera gel (AV) into fish gelatin (FG) with antimicrobial and functional properties for food packaging applications were proposed in this work. AV showed an amphiphilic nature by infrared spectroscopy, high total phenolics content (TPC), antioxidant activity and thermal stability with an initial degradation...

Nano-biocomposite films based on poly (lactic acid) (PLA) were prepared by adding thymol (8 wt.%) and a commercial montmorillonite (D43B) at different concentrations (2.5 and 5 wt.%). The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and disintegration properties of all films were determined. A kinetic study was carried out to evaluate the thymol release from the po...

Antioxidant films based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) containing almond skin extract (ASE) were developed for food packaging applications. The effect of ASE incorporation on the morphological, structural, colour, mechanical, thermal, barrier and antioxidant properties of the prepared films were evaluated. The structural, tensile and thermal propert...

In this work, polyester-based nanocomposites added with laminar nanoclays (calcined hydrotalcite, HT, and montmorillonite, MMT) loaded with lemon waste natural dye (LD) and essential oil (LEO) were prepared and characterized. The optimal conditions to synthetize the hybrid materials were obtained by using statistically designed experiments. The max...

Background: One strategy to decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections is to avoid the survival of pathogens in the environment by the development of surfaces with antimicrobial activity. To study the antimicrobial behaviour of active surfaces, different approaches have been developed of which ISO 22916 is the standard. Aim: To assess t...

Aloe Vera is an ancient medicinal plant especially known for its beneficial properties for human health, due to its bioactive compounds. In this study, nanofibers with antioxidant activity were successfully obtained by electrospinning technique with the addition of a natural Aloe Vera skin extract (AVE) (at 0, 5, 10 and 20 wt% loadings) in poly(eth...

Chemical contaminants should not be present in beverages for human consumption, but could eventually be ingested by consumers as they may appear naturally from the environment or be produced by anthropogenic sources. These contaminants could belong to many different chemical sources, including heavy metals, amines, bisphenols, phthalates, pesticide...

Thymol and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were used to develop poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based films with antioxidant and antibacterial performance. Different amounts of thymol (6 and 8 wt%) and 1 wt% Ag-NPs were added to PLA to produce the active films. Ag-NPs and thymol were successfully identified in the nanocomposite structures using spectroscopic...

Polyester-based biocomposites containing INZEA F2® biopolymer and almond shell powder (ASP) at 10 and 25 wt % contents with and without two different compatibilizers, maleinized linseed oil and Joncryl ADR 4400®, were prepared by melt blending in an extruder, followed by injection molding. The effect of fine (125–250 m) and coarse (500–1000 m) mill...

Cocoa bean shell (CBS) waste is obtained in large amounts in chocolate production. In this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of CBS was used and experimental parameters were optimised by using response surface methodology. Effects of pH, time, temperature and solid:liquid ratio were evaluated on the extraction yield, total uronic acid conte...

Regardless of the considerable progress in properties and versatility of synthetic polymers, their low biodegradability and lack of environmentally-friendly character remains a critical issue. Pectin is a natural-based polysaccharide contained in the cell walls of many plants allowing their growth and cell extension. This biopolymer can be extracte...

In this study, new active PCL (poly(ε-caprolactone)) films containing α-tocopherol (TOC) and MSU-X mesoporous silica were prepared by melt blending. The studied additives were directly incorporated into the polymer matrix or by impregnating TOC into MSU-X silica (PCL-IMP). Thermal, optical, oxygen and water barrier properties as well as oxidation o...

Las exigencias en materia de educación son tanto más imperiosas, pues de ella depende en gran medida el progreso social. Cada vez más se está arraigando la convicción de que la educación debe de ir ligada al uso de las nuevas tecnologías. Cada vez más el uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) especialmente en aplicaciones...

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed juice by-product (PSP) was added as reinforcing and antimicrobial agent to fish gelatin (FG) films as a promising eco-friendly active material for food packaging applications. A complete linkage analysis of polysaccharides in PSP showed xylan and cellulose as main components. This residue showed also high total...

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are successfully synthesized through microwave heating by using Theobroma cacao L. bean shell extract as a stabilizing and capping agent. Response surface methodology is used to obtain optimal synthesis conditions. The effect of microwave power, irradiation time and amount of Na2SeO3 are evaluated on crystalline size...

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure to obtain phenolic compounds from carob bark was optimized by using response surface methodology. A four-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design with five central points was used to evaluate the influence of temperature, solid-liquid ratio, ethanol concentration, and time in carob bark extraction in te...

Los estudios en Ciencia Forense han sufrido tradicionalmente una falta de espacio en los programas en Grado y Máster en Química. La Universidad de Alicante ofrece una asignatura optativa a los estudiantes de cuarto curso en el Grado en Química, los cuales han sido formados en el uso de técnicas instrumentales de análisis. Sin embargo, se ha mostrad...

In recent years, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as green solvents for different extraction techniques has received great attention by their outstanding advantages over conventional organic solvents. ILs are considered environmentally-friendly solvents and they offer some advantageous properties to be used in extraction systems such as low toxicity;...

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are nowadays considered competent candidates to replace traditional plastics in several market sectors. However, commercial PHA materials exhibit unsatisfactory smells that can negatively affect the quality of the final product. The cause of this typical rancid odour is attributed to oxidized cell membrane glycolipids,...

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are currently considered competent candidates to replace traditional plastics in several market sectors. However, commercial PHA grades exhibit unsatisfactory smell that can negatively affect the quality of the final product. The cause of this typical rancid odour is attributed to oxidized cell membrane glycolipids, c...

Edible mushrooms constitute an appreciated nutritional source for humans due to their low caloric intake and their high content in carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre, phenolic compounds, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It has been also demonstrated that mushrooms have health-promoting benefits. Cultivation of mushrooms, espe...

Abstract Nano-biocomposite films based on plasticized cellulose acetate/triethyl citrate (CA/TEC) were prepared with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)/gelatin-modified montmorillonite nanofiller (AgM) and thymol (Th). AgNPs were biosynthesized in situ the clay using Curcuma longa (C. longa) tuber extract. Full characterization of clay and the formulated...

Background Food fraud is described as a violation of food law, which is intentionally committed to get an economic or financial gain through the consumer's swindle resulting in multi-million business and posing a public health threat. The main fraudulent practices are mislabelling of composition, certificates of origin, health claims, and artificia...

The industrial interest for microencapsulation techniques to produce innovative materials has increased in the last years. Microencapsulation shows several advantages for textile industries since active compounds, such as vitamins, essential oils, antimicrobials and/or antibiotics can be isolated to protect them from environment factors (oxygen, li...

Este trabajo busca la mejora de la calidad educativa a través del uso de metodologías activas y basadas en la revisión por pares dentro de un trabajo en equipo en la asignatura Operaciones Básicas de Laboratorio (OBLII) del primer curso del grado en Química. Dentro de la asignatura, los estudiantes realizan un trabajo bibliográfico en equipo tutela...

The main ambition of the BARBARA project is to develop polysaccharide-based engineering bioplastics that are both sustainable and competitive. Functional properties will be achieved through the addition of valuable active compounds derived from agricultural residues. The project involves the extraction and chemical modification of biobased macromol...

Nowadays, the goal of industries and governments to secure a sustainable future is the development of renewable resource-based polymeric biomaterials containing the maximum possible amount of renewable biomass-based derivatives. The search for potential bio-based alternatives from energy to plastics is directed toward the reduction of the petroleum...

The interest for the development of new active packaging materials has rapidly increased in the last few years. Antimicrobial active packaging is a potential alternative to protect perishable products during their preparation, storage and distribution to increase their shelf-life by reducing bacterial and fungal growth. This review underlines the m...

The traditional application of food packaging materials as mere containers without food interaction has changed to the new concept of active packaging, where interactions between food, packaging materials and the environment increase food quality and shelf-life. This concept takes also into consideration the consumer safety and the nutritional char...

Nanotechnologies have emerged to support advancements in production, packaging, and preservation of foods. One of the most important areas in the food sector where nanotechnology gained an innovative role is the food packaging industry. Multifunctional nanocomposites with desired properties can be tailored by combining reinforcement phases with ant...

The quality and safety of processed food strongly depend on their packaging and the protection that it provides. The increasing accumulation of non-biodegradable polymers in the environment represents a threat to the natural habitats and it raises the issue of municipal waste disposal. To overcome these drawbacks, new polymers obtained from natural...

Antimicrobial compounds can help control microbial activity and target specific microorganisms to provide high safety and quality products. For this reason, new technologies based on antimicrobial active packaging have attracted much attention from the food industry because they could satisfy increasing consumer demand for minimally processed and p...

Nanocellulose is considered a sustainable nanomaterial due to its availability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It exists in a number of forms, including nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and bacterial cellulose (BC). Nanocellulose can be used to reinforce polymers, paper, and...

The primary function of packaging is to contain and protect the product from damage or degradation processes, maintaining its safety and quality and ensuring it reaches the consumer in the same condition as when it was produced and throughout its shelf life. This article describes new trends in packaging for drinks, focusing on different packaging...

This review discusses the latest advances in the composition of gelatin-based edible films and coatings, including nanoparticle addition, and their properties are reviewed along their potential for application in the food packaging industry. Gelatin is an important biopolymer derived from collagen and is extensively used by various industries becau...

Concerns on environmental issues have increased in the last decade, while the continuous fluctuations in fuel prices have conditioned the research and development of new bio-based materials to be used in food packaging. In this context, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a biodegradable polymer that exhibits good mechanical properties and biocompatibili...

Over the past two decades, biotechnologies have provided a motor for innovation and sustainability in many economies all around the world by developing new processes and products in a bio-economy approach. Besides food and feed, increasing interest on biomass derived fuels, chemicals and materials, sustainably sourced and produced, has raised, prov...

Growing interest in biomass valorisation in recent years has led to an increasing research focusing on its high content in phytochemicals showing high potential health benefits related to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, among others. On the other hand, the demand for natural antioxidants in industry is continuousl...

This review discusses the latest advances in the composition of gelatin-based edible films and coatings, including nanoparticle addition, and their properties are reviewed along their potential for application in the food packaging industry. Gelatin is an important biopolymer derived from collagen and is extensively used by various industries becau...