Date

3-2010

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Kevin F. Yaptenco

Committee Member

Arnold R. Elepaño, Engelbert K. Peralta

Abstract

The use of modified Atmosphere PAckaging (MAP) is commonly done to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, studies on both respiration rates of local commodities and transmission rates of plastics are very limited. In order to study the storage behavior of a certain produce under MA conditions, a storage system first must be constructed solely for the purpose of determining respiration rate under MAP conditions. The study was conducted to develop a lab-scale storage system that regulates gas transmission through capillary tubes. 2, 3, and 4 capillary tubes, with 1.14mm diameter, were installed on different chambers. Fick's Law of Diffusion was used to describe the flow of O₂ and CO₂ gases in the fabricated MA system. Each chamber was flushed with 5% O₂-CO₂ gad mix then the change in gas concentration was monitored with time in three different temperatures: 10, 15 and 27°C. Statistical analysis through one-way ANOVA showed that the narrow range of the different capillary tube numbers used in the experiment has no significant effects on the transmission of O₂ and CO₂ gases.This can be attributed to several factors not considered in the study, such as: air movement, concentration gradient, effect of gas sampling and agitation of the chambers. However, statistical analysis also revealed that temperature difference has significant effects on gas transmission. Semi-empirical models were generated using nonlinear estimation. Different values of the mass transfer coefficient, k, and exponent n, were computed for different temperatures.Arrhenius relationship only showed positive correlation for Ko₂ and no₂ in oxygen transmission.

Language

English

LC Subject

Gas exchange, Machine--Design

Call Number

LG 993.5 2010 A2 B57

Document Type

Thesis

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