Modeling of Modified Atmosphere Packaging Based on Conventional Polymeric Films and Perforated Films

532Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) can preserve freshness and prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. This chapter summarized the MAP designing models for conventional plastic packaging and perforated packaging. Respiration rate and gas exchange through the package materials are the processes involved in creating the MAP. Thus, determination of respiration rate of the given fruit or vegetable is crucial to the design of a successful MAP. Almost all the MAP modeling depends on the equilibrium or steady state established inside the fruit or vegetable packaging system at which the O₂ consumption and CO₂ production rates are equal to the permeation rates of the respective gases through the packaging film. The ratio of film O₂ permeability to its CO₂ permeability, β, is valuable in selecting the packaging film. Michaelis–Menten models were also described. Perforated MAP is more suitable for fruits and vegetables with higher respiration rates, such as the minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Fick's law, Knudsen's law, and hydrodynamic flows are reviewed for different gas exchange situations.