The influence of the non-linear diffusion on the mass transfer of a packaging contaminant into foodstuffs

Abstract

The unsteady mass transfer of the packaging constituents to a food has been analysed. The diffusion coefficient inside the packaging was considered concentration - variable while the food was considered concentration spatially gradientless. A well-known technique (Kirchhoff transformation) was used to solve the non-linear mass balance equation. The influence of the non-linear diffusion on the mass transfer mechanism and rate was analysed for different values of the partition coefficient and dilution coefficient.

Keywords

• mass transfer
• packaging
• contaminants
• food safety
• concentration-variable diffusivity
• kirchhoff transformation