FRUIT RIPENING DETECTION USING ELECTRONIC NOSE
FRUIT RIPENING DETECTION USING ELECTRONIC NOSE
Ethylene (C2H4) is the most important phytohormone in the process of ripening Climacteric fruit. The fruit ripening stages are linked to rise in the production of ethylene. Thus the ethylene concentration can be used for observing the ripening state. This allows the enactment of advanced food supply chains that depends on the first-expired-first-out process. When the process is started, high amount of ethylene is released, kicking the ripening process into high gear. Presently, expensive technologies such as mass spectroscopy, gas chromatography, metal oxide based saw sensors are handled to measure ethylene levels, in order to compute the fruit’s ripeness that are stored. An inexpensive method of ethylene and sensors can be used in small scale industries and supermarkets, which helps them to know which batches of fruits could be sold soon, to reduce the spoilage. This project shows the purpose of an electronic nose for perpetually monitoring the ripening stages of the fruits is presented.
The ripening process makes the fruits, ripe and ready for consumption. Generally, ripening makes them sweeter and softer. Although, the acidity range of fruit increases as it ripens, the vaporous substances emitted from the fruit are increased during the ripening process with an increase in respiration rate. The ripened fruits will be wobbly and spongy, so they are difficult to handle. Hence, these fully matured hard and green fruits are
Harvested. And also a small amount of ethylene induces the process of ripening near consuming areas in a regulated surrounding of humidity and temperature. Those types of fruits are apricot, banana, apple, plum, mango, pear, guava, kiwi, fig, mango and guava. They are harvested only after the completion of the ripening process.
The sensor MQ-3 can also be used for ethylene gas detection regarding fruit ripening. The above done test and data’s shows that this e-nose technique is accurate and efficient. Various types of fruits emits different types of gases in
various concentrations. By using this electronic nose technique, ripening of fruits can be monitored at seeral stages before it gets over ripen. This will be useful for all small scale industries, agro and forestry industries to detect the ripened fruit easily. It is an easier way to detect the ripening stage of fruits with a cost efficient method.
image source
- vegetables, Fruits: google