Improving the Storage of Sugar Beet by Polymeric Coverage Containing Phase Change Material

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to study the sugar and weight losses and non-sugar impurities of sugar beet during the storage by coverage containing phase change material (PCM). The combination of six coverage types and two storage intervals of 20 and 40 days was arranged in a greenhouse with temperature ranging from 8.5 to 24.5 °C and relative humidity between 47 and 80 %, and paraffin was used as PCM. The polyethylene coverages containing 0, 7 and 14 % paraffin with and without lamination were utilized. The results showed that during the course of 40 days, weight and sugar losses of sugar beet in samples without coverage were 10 and 6.5 times higher than the sample with coverage containing 14 % paraffin (P < 0.05). After 40 days of storage, the amount of K, Na and non-protein nitrogen increased 56, 50 and 65 %, respectively, in sugar beets without coverage as compared to sugar beets covered with 7 % paraffin containing film, laminated film containing 14 % paraffin and 7 % paraffin containing film, respectively (P < 0.05). The lowest degree days between covered samples was found in sugar beets were placed inside of coverage containing 14 % paraffin which was significant (P < 0.05). This shows that the technical quality of sugar beet depends on the rate at which dehydration, sugar loss and non-sugar impurities are minimized. Based on this, covering of sugar beet with polymeric film containing paraffin can be recommended.