Influence of novel coconut oil and beeswax edible coating and MAP on postharvest shelf life and quality attributes of lemon at low temperature

Mohammad Mainuddin Molla Ashfak Ahmed Sabuz Md Abdul Matin (2023, [Artículo])

Weight loss, turning of peel colour from green to yellow and microbial infections are the major postharvest problems of lemon. Lipid-based edible coatings and modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) are effective techniques in maintaining postharvest quality of fruits for long-term storage. With this view, an investigation was conducted for the preservation of green lemon using coconut oil and beeswax edible coating and MAP during storage at low temperature. Physiologically matured lemons were collected and washed with potable water; fruit surface water was removed and then coated with coconut oil-beeswax (90:10) or only coconut oil. After coating, lemons were packaged in MAP or kept in open crates and stored at 12±1 °C and 85±5% relative humidity (RH) for 8 weeks and a week interval, the sampling was conducted. The results revealed that coconut oil-beeswax coating had immense effect on retaining shiny green colour, reducing respiration, weight loss, shrivelling and preserving firmness and ascorbic acid of lemon throughout the storage. On the other hand, MAP mainly helped to retain moisture & firmness and reduce shrivelling. Uncoated lemons kept open lost the highest amount of ascorbic acid and retained only 13.7 mg/100 g that is significantly (p < 0.05) less than the lemons of all other treatments at 8th week of storage period. While lemons coated with coconut oil-beeswax and packaged in MAP was preserved the highest amount (24.2 mg/100 g) of ascorbic acid and there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) with the amount of ascorbic acid content of lemons coated with only coconut oil and packaged in MAP at the last week (8th week) of storage. Hue angle value was 93.4 in uncoated lemons packaged in MAP while it was 113.67 in coconut oil-beeswax coated lemon kept open and 112.64 in lemon coated with coconut oil-beeswax and packaged in MAP at 8th week of storage. Based on all sensory, physical and chemical parameters uncoated lemons kept open was acceptable up to 1 week, coconut oil-beeswax coated lemon kept open was 6 weeks and coconut oil-beeswax coated lemon packaged in MAP was 8 weeks with good quality and shiny green colour.

Edible Coating Sensory Quality Hue Angle Yellowing CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA EDIBLE FILMS RESPIRATION RATE LEMONS MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING COLD

Las patologías de los recubrimientos en muros y su repercusión en la salud respiratoria de los usuarios

Rosario Tovar (2023, [Tesis de doctorado])

251 páginas. Doctorado en Diseño Bioclimático.

El nivel de calidad del aire interior (CAI) tiene incidencia directa en la salud humana, por eso, es objeto de estudio del diseño bioclimático, toda vez que éste promueve el aprovechamiento de los factores ambientales para la creación y acondicionamiento de espacios en los que los usuarios experimenten confort y bienestar. Además, de impulsar la construcción con sentido común, en donde prevalezca el uso racional de los recursos y una baja dependencia energética. En la presente tesis se pudieron identificar las propiedades de los materiales más comunes que conforman los recubrimientos de muros (cal, cemento, mortero de cemento y yeso) para reconocer los que mejor se adaptan al clima en la Cd. de México, mismos que según se pudo constatar, contribuyen en el control de algunos factores de riesgo (físico: humedad, químico: tóxicos y biológico: microbios) relacionados con una baja calidad del aire al interior de las viviendas. Tal función mitiga o reduce la aparición de algunos de los padecimientos respiratorios más frecuentes en los usuarios como: alergias, asma, rinitis, gripe y sinusitis. Los análisis a los que fueron sometidos los recubrimientos de cuatro materiales ligantes, permitieron evaluar su desempeño ante factores ambientales semi-controlados (temperatura, humedad relativa y concentración de dióxido de carbono) inherentes al funcionamiento del propio espacio interior y al lugar de emplazamiento del mismo. Obviamente, todos los recubrimientos reaccionaron de forma distinta y acorde con las propiedades físicas y químicas de los materiales presentes en cada uno de ellos. Siendo las variaciones más representativas y satisfactorias, las relacionadas con la permeabilidad y el efecto biocida de los recubrimientos hechos con mezcla de cal. Las patologías que mostraron algunos recubrimientos a lo largo del periodo de monitoreo, debido a la insuficiente gestión de la humedad, al alto desarrollo microbiano y a la naturaleza química del material ligante, fueron criptoeflorescencias, moho, bacterias y desprendimiento/diseminación de partículas; mismas que se consideraron definitorias para establecer que al igual que los seres vivos, los materiales de construcción necesitan rangos higrotérmicos específicos, que permitan su óptimo estado de operación. En apego a lo anteriormente citado, es que se considera conveniente concientizar a la población en temas tan importantes para el bienestar social, como la selección de materiales y -consecuente- conservación de los recubrimientos de muros, no sólo para disminuir los costos de ejecución y mantenimiento, sino para aprovechar sus propiedades, ya que tienen una incidencia directa en lo relacionado con el control de las condiciones ambientales básicas, la regulación de la calidad del aire interior y por ende, en la salud de los usuarios. Dicha labor puede iniciar en la etapa formativa de los profesionales de la construcción, con la intención de normalizar el estudio o correcta selección de los sistemas constructivos en función del clima, pero también identificando la función de cada espacio; para garantizar así, que las propuestas de diseño responderán -satisfactoriamente- a los requerimientos de regulación de la humedad, mediante su absorción, transpiración y/o evaporación.

The level of indoor air quality (IAQ) has a direct incidence on the human health, therefore, is the object of study of bioclimatic design, since it promotes the harnessing environmental factors for the creation and conditioning of spaces in which users experience comfort and well-being. In addition, to encourage construction with common sense, where the rational use of resources and low energy dependence prevail. In this thesis it has been identified the properties of the materials that make up the most common wall coverings (hydrated lime, cement, cement mortar and gypsum) for recognizing those that best adapt to the weather in Mexico City, as it could be verified, they contribute to the control of some risk factors (physical:moisture, chemical:toxics and biological:microbes) related with a low indoor air quality at dwellings. This function mitigates or reduces the appearance of some of the most frequent respiratory ailments in users such as: allergies, asthma, rhinitis, flu and sinusitis. The analyses to which the coatings of four binding materials were subjected, allowed to evaluate their performance in the face of semi-controlled environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration) inherent to the operation of the interior space itself and the place of its location. Obviously, all the coatings reacted differently and according with the physical and chemical properties of the materials in each of them. Being the most representative and satisfactory variations, those related to the permeability and biocidal effect of coatings made with hydrated lime mixture. The pathologies that some coatings showed throughout the monitoring period, due to insufficient moisture management, the high microbial development, and the chemical nature of the binding material, were cryptoefflorescences, mold, bacteria and particle shedding/dissemination; they were defining to establish that in similar way to living beings, building materials need specific hygrothermal ranges, to let them works in an optimal state. According with the above, it is considered convenient to raise awareness among the population on issues as important for social welfare, such as the selection of materials and -consequently- conservation of wall coverings, not only to reduce the costs of execution and maintenance, but to take advantage of their properties, since they have a direct incidence in all related with the control of basic environmental conditions, the regulation of indoor air quality and therefore, in users’ health. This work can begin in the formative stage of construction professionals, with the intention of standardizing the study or correct selection of construction systems depending on the weather, but also identifying the function of each space; to guarantee that the design proposals will respond -satisfactorily- to the requirements of humidity regulation, through its absorption, transpiration and/or evaporation.

Muro, recubrimientos, patologías, salud. Wall, coating, pathologies, health. Indoor air pollution--Health aspects. Architecture--Health aspects. Interior walls. Protective coatings. Lime as a disinfectant. Building materials. Communicable diseases--Transmission--Prevention. Contaminación del aire interior. Muros interiores. Revestimientos. Cal como desinfectante. RA577.5 HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA CIENCIAS DE LAS ARTES Y LAS LETRAS ARQUITECTURA DISEÑO ARQUITECTÓNICO