Modelling of a modified atmosphere packaging system at commercial pallet scale for bell pepper

摘要

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technique can prolong the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. However, MAP has not been usually applied at pallet scale to horticultural products for long term storage or transport. In the present work a model package for bell pepper at pallet scale has been designed. For this purpose a mixed package made in high barrier polyethylene film pasted to a sheet of aluminium provided with a silicone membrane window was developed. According to preliminary experimental results on small packages, the aim of the current work was to reach within sealed commercial pallets a suitable gas composition for shipping bell pepper. To predict the equilibrium atmosphere within pallet package a static model was applied by considering the fruit weight and respiration rate, the gas permeabilities of the silicone membrane and the area of gas exchange. A silicone membrane window of 0.16 dm{sup}2/kg was made on the impermeable package. The mass of the fruit in each pallet was around 250 kg and the storage was prolonged up to 21 days in a commercial cold room at 5°C and about 90% RH. A steady state atmosphere of 6-7 kPa O{sub}2 and 4-5 kPa CO{sub}2 was reached, being adequate for both the design purposes and the keeping quality of bell peppers. This renewed MAP system for pallets could be commercially successful, if chilling temperature during storage, transport and distribution is well kept minimizing water condensations.