Correction Factors for Nondestructive Measurement of Residual Volume of Air in Retort Pouches

Authors

  • AMITAVA GHOSH,

    1. Author Ghosh is affiliated with the Chemical Engineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., 29631.
    Search for more papers by this author
  • S. S. H. RIZVI

    1. Author Rizvi, formerly with the Food Science Department, Clemson University, is now affiliated with the Food Science Dept. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
    Search for more papers by this author

  • Technical contribution no. 1927 of the South Carolina Agriculture Experiment Station, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC.

ABSTRACT

A destructive and a nondestructive method of estimating residual volume of air in retort pouches were compared. The difference between the volumes of air given by two techniques were found to be significant (P < 0.05) by paired t-test. An indirect calculation method was developed for estimation of internal pressure at neutral buoyancy and when used in conjunction with Archimedes’ Principle and Boyle's Law significantly improved the results. This method of calculating residual air in flexible pouches did not show any significant difference (P > 0.01) when compared to the standard destructive technique. The procedure outlined is easy to use.

Ancillary