45D-1 |
Development of active packaging materials using natural zeolite |
Y. CHOI, Dept. of Food Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-gu, Taegu, 702-701, South Korea and B. Lee, Dept. of Food Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-gu, Taegu, Korea, 702-701. Generally, ethylene (C2H4) acts as a plant hormone that has various physiological effects on fresh fruits and vegetables. It accelerates respiration, leading to maturity and senescence, and also softening and ripening of many kinds of fruit. To prolong a shelf-life and maintain an acceptable visual and organoleptic quality, accumulation of ethylene in the package of them should be avoided. The objectives of this research were to develop ethylene adsorbing packaging materials using natural zeolite which is capable of adsorbing ethylene gas for the longer storage and distribution with maintaining the original qualities of fruits and vegetables. The zeolite powder having the highest adsorbing efficiency was applied to the three kinds of ethylene adsorbing packaging materials such as zeolite+starch coating box, zeolite+PVA coating box and zeolite powder pad. The developed packaging materials were evaluated by means of measuring ethylene adsorbing efficiency, the change of some physical properties and the effect of ethylene removal for the keeping qualities of oriental melon. Ethylene adsorbing efficiency of zeolite powder pad was 72%. Ethylene adsorbing efficiencies of zeolite +starch coating box and zeolite+PVA coating box were 10.5% and 12.5%, respectively. The data on the physical properties were good enough for the natural zeolite coating treated box compared with the others. According to the experimental data on the oriental melon in this study, it was found out that the reducing ethylene gas concentration was the most important factor to extend the shelf-life of fruit compared with the controlling of CO2 and O2 concentration. Development of new active packaging materials for the retention of fruit freshness could improve the retention of fresh firmness and soluble solid content. These results suggest that a development of active packaging materials could get the longer storage and distribution with maintaining the original qualities of fruit. The application of this concept to the packaging materials could possibly contribute to an increase in the export of fresh products.
Session 45D, Food Packaging: General
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