Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer/gelatin/cellulose acetate bionic trilayer fibrous membrane for moisture-adjusting

An intelligent bionic trilayer fibrous membrane is developed via electrospinning for the moisture-adjusting of a storage space. The trilayer is composed of a hydrophobic inner layer of cellulose acetate (CA), a super hygro-scopic intermediate layer of gelatin (GA) and a hydrophilic outer layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The hierarchical pore networks of EVOH/GA/CA (-2.45/-4.5/-36.0 mu m) and the asymmetry wettability endow the membrane with outstanding directional water transport capacity. Specifically, the membrane has an excellent accumulative one-way transport index (1293 %), a remarkable overall moisture management capacity (0.91) and a reasonably high water evaporation rate (0.59 g h-1). The target membrane can regulate the relative humidity (RH) from 75 % to 50 % without extra energy consumption, which is capable of extending the shelf-life of jerk beef by-100 % under surrounding temperature of 25 degrees C and humidity of 75 % RH.

Automated summary

An intelligent bionic trilayer fibrous membrane has been developed for moisture-adjusting in storage spaces. It has excellent directional water transport capacity, remarkable moisture management capacity, and the ability to extend the shelf-life of food.