Predicting Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressures within Modified Atmosphere Packages of Cut Rutabaga

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A model was developed to predict pO 2 and pCO 2 surrounding cut rutabaga sealed in rigid packages fitted with 2 different polymeric films. The O 2 consumption and CO 2 production rates were calculated using several respiration models fitted using nonlinear least squares or response surface regression analysis. These functions were used in conjunction with variables such as O 2 and CO 2 film permeability, film surface area, package free volume, and cut rutabaga weight to predict pO 2 and pCO 2 changes. A first‐order polynomial model with parameters calculated via response surface analysis gave the best predictions, particularly at partial pressures that were far removed from those used to determine equation constants.