DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD FOR SAFE RIPENING AND REMOVAL OF CALCIUM CARBIDE RESIDUES IN TRADITIONALLY RIPENED MANGO FRUITS
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Date
2015
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Studies on estimation of harmful residues of arsenic on the mango fruits due to ripening by calcium carbide (CaC2)
and development of method for removal of residues from the fruits were carried out to ensure residue free fruits to the
consumers. Besides, an appropriate size ripening chamber and suitable ripening agent was also optimized for safe ripening of
mangoes by the small scale traders and farmers. Mango fruit ripened by using different combinations of calcium carbide viz.
dipping in calcium carbide solution (1and 2%) or placing calcium carbide in sachet in the fruit box (5 g & 10 g/5kg mango
fruit box) were evaluated for presence of arsenic, calcium and phosphorus residues and compared with the level of residues
found in mango fruit from the market as well as in the fruits ripened without using calcium carbide (control). Out of different
combinations, the fruits ripened by using CaC2 either as solution or in the form of sachet contained arsenic content between
34.73-83.43 ppb, while the fruit ripened without using CaC2 did not contain any arsenic residue. Thus, presence of arsenic
on the ripened mangoes can be used as a tool for detecting CaC2 ripened fruits from the fruit lot. Among all the treatments,
the highest phosphorus residues were found in mango fruits collected from the market (13.55 mg/100g). Presence of very
high amount of arsenic in the fruits collected from the market indicate that mangoes are ripened by traders using very high
concentration of CaC2 i.e. more than 10 g calcium carbide. Among different fruit parts, highest residue (ppb) was found on
the fruit-surface followed by peel and pulp. Further, the pattern of arsenic residues found in fruits at different sampling
intervals from the local market indicate that traders use very high dose of CaC2 for ripening during the early starting season
(106.27-100.74 ppb) of mango and thereafter the quantity required might be decreased (76.85 ppb). The quantity of calcium
and phosphorus found in the CaC2 ripened fruit was not appreciably different than that of untreated fruits and as such was
not found to be suitable as tool for CaC2 detection. Out of different washing treatments used for removal of residues dipping
of fruit in solution of 2% Na2CO3 solution or in agri-biosoft aqueous solution for 12 hr was found effective in reducing the
arsenic residue from 71.02 ppb to just 6.74-9.05 ppb from fruit surface. The treatments also helped to some extent to remove
arsenic residue from the peel and pulp of the fruits. Further, the washing treatments were effective in removal of adhering
calcium and phosphorus residues from the fruit surface but were unable to reduce the calcium and phosphorus from the peel
and pulp of the ripened mangoes. Thus, dipping mangoes in 2% Na2CO3 solution for 12 hr can be recommended for removal
of arsenic residues from the CaC2 ripened mangoes prior to their consumption. Ripening chamber (1.7 m3) made of wooden
board, tin sheet and thermocol fitted with evaporative cooler was found suitable for ripening agents, ethylene gas (100 ppm)
generated by dissolving ethrel and sodium hydroxide inside the ripening chamber was found most suitable for ripening of
mangoes at a small scale. Thus, developed technology for ripening of mango fruits inside the ripening chamber can be
adopted by the small scale traders and farmers to ensure safe fruit to the consumer without any presence of harmful residues.
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Keywords
fruits, biological development, mangoes, calcium, application methods, ethylene, byproducts, solutes, irrigation, plant growth substances, Residues,Mango Fruits,CAC2