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Performance Evaluation of Hot-water Treatment Plant for Mango

M N Amin
Scientific Officer
Respectively, FMP Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur.

K C Roy
Chief Scientific Officer
Respectively, FMP Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur

M A Matin
Scientific Officer
Respectively, FMP Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur

M A Wohab
Senior Scientific Officer
Respectively, FMP Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur

S Ahmmed
Principal Scientific Officer
BARC, Dhaka-1215

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A hot-water treatment plant for mango was designed and fabricated at Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering (FMPE) Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) to reduce the postharvest loss. Overall dimension of the plant was 3030 x 1000 x 814 mm and was fabricated with M S sheet, M S angle, bearing, chain, sprocket, heaters, cork sheet, pulley etc. It had five main functional parts: i) rectangular tanks, ii) roller conveyer assembly, iii) water heating system, iv) power transmission assembly, and v) agitator assembly. Conveyer roller is rotated by an electric motor and water was heated by six immersion electric heaters of 3 kW. A digital temperature controller was set to control the temperature or water a pre-determined temperature, usually from 54 to 56⁰C. The performance of the plant was evaluated at FMPE Division, Gazipur and Regional Horticultural Research Station, Chapai Nawabgonj. Langra variety of mangoes were treated at 55⁰C for 5 minutes. The average capacity of the plant was 1089 kg mango per hour. After the hot- water treatment, mango surfaces were dried by pedestal electric fan. No anthracnose or stem-end rot disease was observed, developed attractive colour, and the shelf-life was increased to 10 to 15 days. The postharvest rotting loss was only 0.13 per cent. The break-even-point of the plant was 5.5 tons of mangoes per year. The price of the plant was Tk 85 thousand and the cost of hot-water treatment was Tk 0.17 per kg. The farmers, traders and exporters would be benefited using this plant.

Keywords: Hot-water treatment plant, Mango, Postharvest, Performance

Location: Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering (FMPE) Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Mango

Objectives:

To evaluate the performance of the plant
To assess postharvest loss, quality and shelf-life of mangoes
To study economics of the plant

Methodology:

Two rectangular tanks were made of M S sheet and M S angle. The inner tank holds water and the outer tank supports weight of water, tank and load of mangoes. Cork sheet insulation was provided between two tanks. It reduced heat loss and also protected the water tank from any physical injury. The water tank was filled up with tap water. The immersion water heater was started through electric panel board. The heaters were set to 55° C temperature using knob of the temperature controller. When the temperature of water was raised to 55°C, the heaters were stopped by temperature controller. The controller is controlled by a thermo-couple. When the temperature fall below 54°C, the heaters started automatically. The temperature controller maintained temperature at 55±1 °C, Mangoes were washed before feeding in the plant. Washed mangoes were put inside multipurpose plastic crates of 542 x 360 x 300 mm size, which hold 20 to 22 kg mangoes. When the temperature of water raised to 55°C, the motor was started to run the conveyer rollers and agitator. Two persons gathered crates near the plant. The crates of fruits were put on the conveyor roller. The crates moved slowly from one end of the hot water tank to the other. Roller speed was set to ensure that crates moved through hot-water for five minutes. One person put mango crates on the roller of the plant from one end of the plant continuously. These crates then moved through the hot-water and reached the other end of the plant. Another labourer picked up the treated mango crates from the other end continuously. Two persons carried crates of treated mangoes near the drying place to dry them. Hot-water treatment cost included fixed cost and operating cost. Fixed cost included depreciation, interest and operating cost includes electric bill, labour, repair & maintenance. Depreciation of plant was calculated using straight-line method.

Source of Information: Journal of Agricultural Engineering The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Vol. 33/AE, pp.87-91, December. 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The average capacity of the plant was 1089 kg per hour. Mangoes were treated by the plant successfully. The treated mangoes got attractive colour. The shelf life of the treated mango increased to 10 to 15 days instead of 5 days. Due to such colour and increased shelf- life. the mangoes could be sold at higher price. The postharvest loss was only 0.13 per cent. Operating cost of the plant was only Tk 170/h and the cost of hot-water treatment was only Tk 0.17 per kg mango. The break even point of the plant is only 5.5 tons mangoes per year.

Knowledge Management: Journal