Bulk modified atmosphere packaging of lakatan banana (Musa acuminate AA)

Date

2011

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

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Abstract

Modified atmosphere packaging which commonly uses permeable plastic material like polyethylene film to provide an atmosphere with low O₂ and high CO₂ level is one good alternative to refrigeration in extending the greenlife of banana. At present, bulk or large modified atmosphere (MA) packaging of commodity, which utilizes impermeable polyethylene plastic provided with diffusion windows, was given attention. In this large packages, gas exchange with the surroundings will occur at diffusion windows placed at different locations of the package. A careful design of the storage atmosphere is very crucial in attaining the optimum storage condition of commodity. For bulk MA packaging of Lakatan banana, a 1.6 mm polyethylene (PE) was used in the fabrication of plastic tent with a dimension of 54.5 cm x 40 cm x 89 cm. It was provided with the four (4)0.14 m² PE film windows. Respiration rate of Lakatan banana at ambient temperature and at 5% O₂ level, which is 9.32 ml kg^-1 -h^-1 was obtained by closed respiration chamber system. It was used in the calculation of areas of diffusion windows for tent. PE-25 with 22 perforations per window was sealed using glue stick. The designed plastic tent for storage was ineffective in attaining the desired O₂ level. Oxygen transmission rate (O₂TR) of 1.6 mm plastic material at ambient temperature has no effect on the high O₂ level attained because it can only add about 0.3% O₂ level inside the tent. The second trial with windows sealed by 1/8 inch rivets and masking tape and have 5 perforations per window was also ineffective in attaining the desired condition. However, stored ripe banana yielded better results in terms of reduced disease incidence and it has no significant differences in sensory and visual quality compared to the control.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2011 A2 A53

Document Type

Thesis

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