Modelling and numerical simulation of water vapour sorption kinetics in humidity regulating polypropylene films containing sodium chloride

Sanahuja, Solange; Miesbauer, Oliver; Reichmann, Ellen; Sängerlaub, Sven (January 2012). Modelling and numerical simulation of water vapour sorption kinetics in humidity regulating polypropylene films containing sodium chloride In: European Multidisciplinary Society for Modelling and Simulation Technology -EUROSIS-; European Technology Institute -ETI-: FOODSIM 2012, Food Simulation Conference (pp. 91-97). Freising: Fraunhofer Institute IVV

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This study proposes a mathematical time-dependent model to examine the humidity sorption kinetics and the storage capacity of a porous packaging polymer material (PP) containing NaCl as hygroscopic substance. Water vapour pressure gradient was chosen as the principal driving force for the transport of water vapour in the film. Solving the diffusion equation numerically by the finite element method resulted in the evolution of water vapour contents calculated inside humidity regulating film specimens. The influence of the diffusion and the sorption coefficients of the polymer, and of the thickness and the NaCl content of the film on kinetics and capacity of the humidity regulating films could be determined. By comparison of the calculated amount of absorbed water vapour with experimental data, a good agreement between the predicted tendencies of the numerical and experimental results was found. The model was validated in a region of the salt's sorption isotherm above the deliquescence point of NaCl and significantly below the humidity at which the holes in PP are completely filled with water. The results permit to develop optimized humidity regulating films for individual food requirements. Application of this model could facilitate the development of these active films using different polymers and hygroscopic substances.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Consumer-focused Food Production School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Consumer-focused Food Production > Food Processing
Name:	Sanahuja, Solange; Miesbauer, Oliver; Reichmann, Ellen and Sängerlaub, Sven
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software Q Science > QC Physics T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
ISBN:	978-90-77381-72-4
Publisher:	Fraunhofer Institute IVV
Language:	English
Submitter:	Solange Sanahuja
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2020 09:11
Last Modified:	05 Oct 2020 12:10
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Water vapour diffusion, Finite element method, Food packaging film, Humidity regulation, Sodium Chloride
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.8965
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/8965