Ecology

Lotus

Biology

Biofouling

Materials science

Raw material

Coating

Cutin

Biochemistry

Beeswax

Botany

Food science

Food packaging

Lotus effect

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Membrane

Composite material

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering Journal

Edible superhydrophobic surface for food related application has been fulfilled on various substrates; however, the independent edible superhydrophobic material has yet to be realized. Here we report the edible artificial lotus leaf (AL) fabricated through combination of superhydrophobic beeswax coating and tomato waste recycled cutin-pectin membrane, mimicking the antifouling ability of lotus and oxygen barrier ability of tomato. Moreover, additional heating was introduced for stability enhancement, increasing adhesion and water vapour blocking ability. Through the combination of Merits of both lotus leaf and tomato skin, results indicated that AL could be presented as an independent food packaging and form straw, cup and dissolvable bag as plastic replacement material. Furthermore, AL could serve as recyclable functional packaging for underwater storage, oxidation blocking, selective release bags. Additionally, AL holds similar mechanical strength to tomato peel. Therefore, edible AL can provide new insights for future edible superhydrophobic material and food packaging designs.

Tomato-lotus inspired edible superhydrophobic artificial lotus leaf