Novel environment-friendly heat-storage materials with efficient cooling capacity are in high demand by the food, pharmaceutical, and related industries and supply chains. Better control and prevention of cross-contamination caused by meltwater from traditional ice have become critical to ensure the safety and quality of food and other commodities. Here, we present the design and fabrication of a novel robust, reusable, self-cleanable, and compostable stationary cooling medium, “Jelly Ice Cubes” (JICs), based on gelatin – menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) hydrogels (Gel/MSB-JICs). The Gel/MSB-JICs shows exceptionally stable cooling efficiency comparable to that of ordinary ice, and robust mechanical strength for at least 10 times of repeated cyclic freeze-thaw processes, with stable self-cleaning functions against bacteria, fungi, and yeast. At the end of the lifecycle of JICs, they can be composted or used as a soil treatment to promote plant growth. The novel JICs are competent as a promising, safer, and more eco-friendly substitute for traditional ice and ice packs.

Robust, reusable, self-cleanable and compostable cooling media based on gelatin – Menadione sodium bisulfite hydrogels

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.