Temperature-regulated defective MIL-100(Fe) for clove essential oil loading as an effective natural preservative for peaches

The perishability of fruits and vegetables poses significant challenges for their transportation and storage. Clove essential oil (CEO) is a natural preservative, but its high volatility and instability limit its practical application. In this study, a series of novel defective MIL-100(Fe)-x (D-MIL-100(Fe)-x, where x represents the molar ratio relative to iron: 1, 5, 10, or 15) were synthesized using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a modulator and subsequently loaded with CEO to enhance stability and enable sustained release for peach preservation. Among these, D-MIL-100(Fe)-1 exhibited the highest CEO loading capacity of 610.6 mg/g, 1.45 times greater than that of conventional MIL-100(Fe). The composite demonstrated significant sustained-release behavior, releasing 42.3% of CEO over 16 days at 25 °C. D-MIL-100(Fe)-1/CEO showed a preservative effect comparable to that of the refrigerated group, offering enhanced versatility, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a novel defective MIL-100(Fe)-x for effective essential oil loading, providing a safe and biocompatible method for preserving fruits and vegetables.