Júlia Ferreira Henrique

I am an undergraduate student in Chemistry Education at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), having started my studies in the first semester of 2023. From July 2024 to July 2025, I took part in activities under the Technical Training I project (FAPESP TTI - 2024/09396-9), entitled Evaluation of nanoparticulated edible coatings in association with essential oils for postharvest preservation of climacteric fruits (papaya), developed by the Postharvest Technologies Group at Embrapa Instrumentation (São Carlos, SP Brazil). Within the scope of this project, studies were conducted to investigate the postharvest quality of papayas coated with a nanoemulsion based on carnauba wax and essential oils, focusing on physicochemical and sensory changes during storage and evaluating the effectiveness of the coating in fruit preservation. Additionally, still within the context of this project, I participated in the development of natural films based on biopolymers, with an emphasis on the use of cassava starch, cellulose nanocrystals, and ucuuba butter, aiming at their application as active edible coatings. My activities encompassed the formulation and preparation of the films, as well as the execution of physicochemical, functional, and structural analyses (thickness, color, water vapor permeability, solubility, mechanical properties, microscopy, among others).This experience has strengthened my technical skills in multidisciplinary areas involving nanotechnology, materials science, and postharvest food preservation. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)