Thesis (Master)--İzmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, 2005 / Includes bibliographical references (leaves. 92-96).

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar ( Food Processing))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Food Science / unrestricted

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Edible coatings controlling preservative migration from surface to food bulk could inhibit surface microbial growth which is often the main cause of spoilage for many food products. In this project we focused our attention upon methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and chitosan as the structural component for such edible films. These films were generally transparent and effective at thicknesses in the order of 20 to 100 μm. We expect them to have little impact on the sensory properties of a food. Permeability cell measurements were used to evaluate the effect of coating composition. Further film characterization included film thickness and electron microscopy studies. To gain an understanding of the permeation process, the permeability tests were done at 5, 24, 32, and 40°C. Among these polysaccharide films, methylcellulose was the most promising diffusion barrier with a permeability constant of 3.4 and 1.4xl0⁻⁸ (mg/sec cm²)(cm)/(mg/ml) at 24 and 5°C, respectively. These barrier properties were enhanced by the incorporation of lipids into the film formulation. The permeability of sorbates in methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose emulsified with lauric, palmitic, stearic and arachidic acid was found to depend upon the polysaccharide, the fatty acid chain length, and the number of fatty acid double bonds. Potassium sorbate permeation increased in the following order lauric>palmitic>stearic>arachidic acid. The effect of the double bond type, i.e. cis vs. trans was also determined. The permeability rate of potassium sorbate increased in the order of oleic>elaidic>stearic acid. The effect of temperature on potassium sorbate permeability was analyzed using an Arrhenius activation energy model for the permeation process. Permeability determinations at four different temperatures showed excellent agreement with this model and suggest that the permeation process is diffusion controlled. Electron microscopy studies showed the absence of pores, channels or other defects which might be introduced during casting, drying, handling or permeability determination. This observation is consistent with our hypothesis that potassium sorbate permeation is diffusion controlled. Furthermore, our experimental data suggest that the diffusion is controlled by the properties of the solvent embedded in the film. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. The effect of casting technique was examined by coating a pure polysaccharide film with a fatty acid mixture or bees wax and by laminating a fatty acid mixture or hydrogenated palm oil between two layers of pure polysaccharide films. Unfortunately, most of these films cracked easily and could not be tested in our permeability cell. On the other hand, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films coated with bees wax showed exceedingly low potassium sorbate permeability values. These modifications of the polysaccharide film properties reduced the potassium permeability down to 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻¹¹ (mg/sec cm²)(cm)/(mg/ml) depending upon temperature, film composition and film casting technique. A simplified procedure previously published was used to evaluate surface microbial stability enhancement. With this information a food processor can select the appropriate film, application procedure and film thickness to achieve the desired shelf life under ambient or refrigerated storage conditions. / Graduation date: 1988

The use of edible coatings in combination with antimicrobial agents enhances the microbial stability of foods. In this study we evaluated the potassium sorbate and sorbic acid permeability of an edible methylcellulose (MC) - palmitic acid (PA) film with a MC:PA ratio of 3:1. Permeability cell measurements were used to evaluate the effect of pH and water activity (a [subscript w]) on the film permeation rate by sorbic acid and potassium sorbate. For films with a thickness of 55-66 pm, potassium sorbate permeability increased from 2.3x10⁻¹⁰ to 2.0x10⁻⁸ (mg/sec cm²)/(cm)/(mg/mL) as a [subscript w] increased from 0.65 to 0.80. Films were not stable at a [subscript w] levels above 0.80. The permeability of the film to sorbic acid decreased from 3.3x10⁻⁸ to 9.1x10⁻¹⁰ (mg/sec cm²) (cm)/(mg/mL) when pH in the permeability cell was increased from 3 to 7. This permeability decrease with pH could balance the loss of effectiveness of sorbates due to the lowering of the percentage of undissociated molecules at high pH. Another characterization of the MC-PA film was the evaluation of the effect of relative humidity (RH) on its oxygen transmission rate (OTR). In general, the film was highly permeable to oxygen (OTR values at 24°C, 660 to 1400 mL O₂ (STP)/m² 24h atm, average film thickness of 55 μm). Therefore, there is no risk to develop anaerobic conditions on food surfaces coated with the MC-PA film. There was no relative humidity effect on OTR in the 0-60% RH range; whereas, the OTR doubled when the RH was increased from 60 to 80%. These results agree well with the moisture uptake of the MC-PA film. Its moisture sorption isotherm shows a large moisture content increase at RH levels larger than 60%. The application of methylcellulose-based films as moisture permeability barriers in simulated sundae ice cream cones showed that a MC-PA film practically stopped moisture transfer from the ice cream to the sugar cone. Sugar cone crispness was retained for a period longer than three months when stored coated at -10°F and +10°F. The crispness of commercial sundae ice cream cones is retained for periods much less than three months. / Graduation date: 1990

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric.)(Food Science))-University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Food Science." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2006. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-106). Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.

The focus of this thesis is to develop pectin-based edible films for application of fruits and vegetables to extend their post harvest shelf life. Preliminary research demonstrated that edible coatings could effectively extend the shelf life of based avocado and peach. The respiration rate, moisture loss, firmness, chemical parameters and color changed in a lower rate in coated fruits as compared with the control. Pectin-based film formulations were then evaluated to identify the proper type and concentration of pectin, lipids and plasticizers in the film. The effects of pectin, beeswax and sorbitol concentration on water vapor permeability, mechanical properties and opacity of the films were then evaluated using response surface methodology to identify appropriate levels of different components. Results of studies on film structure revealed that water vapor permeability increased by pectin and sorbitol concentration and was decreased by beeswax concentration. Mechanical properties were mainly affected by pectin and sorbitol concentration. Beeswax was the most influential factor that affected opacity which increased with increasing beeswax concentration. / In order to successfully employ these films, their adsorption behavior, thermal and thermomechanical properties were evaluated as a function of moisture content and sorbitol concentration. The adsorption behavior was strongly influenced by sorbitol concentration. Moisture content and sorbitol concentration increased the films elongation at break, but decreased tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and Tg, and increased water vapor permeability of the films. Finally, avocado was coated with a pectin-based film and the associated quality changes were evaluated during storage. From storage studies, kinetic parameters (rate constants) and activation energy were quantified to help model the quality changes in avocado quality as function of storage temperature and time. Pectin-based coating resulted in slowing down the rate of quality changes in avocado at each storage temperature. In general, most changes were well described by some form of zero or first order rate. Temperature sensitivity of rate constant was adequately described by the Arrhenius model. / A hyperspectral imaging technique was also used to gather additional tools for following quality changes associated with stored avocados. Artificial neural network (ANN) concepts were evaluated as alternated models for predicting quality changes in coated and non-coated avocados during storage at different temperature. Modeling of quality changes in avocado indicated that compared to conventional mathematical models, ANN has more feasibility to predict of these changes. Models developed for firmness, weight loss and total color difference had better fitness than respiration rate. / Finally, the effect of coating on disease severity and different properties of avocados infected by Lasiodiplodia theobromae was studied. The coated fruits demonstrated slower rate of disease progress, respiration rate, softening and color changes. Respiration rate, firmness and color parameters were sensitive to coating and disease severity, and thus these parameters could successfully used to predict fruit quality from disease in coated and uncoated avocados.