Modeling respiration of apple slices in modified-atmosphere packages

Modified-atmosphere packaging was used to provide respiratory data for apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) slices at 0, 5, 10 and 15 degrees C, The maximum rate of O-2 uptake increased with increasing temperature, The lowest O-2 partial pressure to which fruit could be exposed without fermentation also increased with increasing temperature, A mathematical model of film permeability data characterized the effect of fruit mass, film permeability to O-2, activation energy of O-2 permeation, temperature, and the film type, area, and thick ness on O-2 partial pressure for hermetically packaged apple slices. The model identified a minimum (fruit mass x film thick ness)/(film area) ratio for apple slices, which would simplify package design calculations.