Abstract
Nowadays, the new and renewable energy is one of the main concern, especially the solar energy which is considered as new and renewable energy instead of other traditional energies. Therefore, the scientific research in the field of unconventional energy sources has increased due to its easy of use and low cost, as well as not polluting the environment. The main objective of this study is using of solar photovoltaic cells for operating a locally manufactured electrostatic charging unit, which used to charge and modify polyethylene sheet surface as packaging materials for extend shelf life of sweet pepper. This study was carried out at Agriculture Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, KafrElsheikh University, KafrElsheikh Governorate (31.07N° and 30.57E°), Egypt during the period from June to September, 2016. The electrostatic charge unit, consists of a converting unit from low voltage to the required high voltage, which connected with control unit adjust charging speed of the polyethylene sheet surface to evaluate the charging unit on four different charging speeds of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 ms-1 using three different ranges of high voltages and four different thickness of the polyethylene sheet (a, b, c, d, and e). The polyethylene sheets surface was treated with 3% chitosan solution (weight basic) after the polyethylene sheet surface was charged with electrostatic charge unit to modify and improve antimicrobial properties of polyethylene sheet surface as packaging materials for extend shelf life of sweet pepper. The obtained results concluded that the polyethylene sheet (type a) gave the highest value of electrostatic charge at the highest voltage range difference. Charged polyethylene sheet surface and chitosan treated gave a high antimicrobial properties against listeria monothytogene, fusariumoxysporum and Pseudomonase aeroginosa. Finally, charged polyethylene sheet surface and chitosan treated during the sweet pepper storage period gave lower values of weight loss , pH and total aerobic bacteria count as well as yeast and mold count than other samples.
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