PENGARUH PENGAPLIKASIAN ARANG AKTIF KAYU BIDARA UNTUK MEMPERTAHANKAN UMUR SIMPAN PISANG KEPOK

Abstract

Kepok banana (Musa paradasiaca formatypical) is a climacteric fruit with high ripening rate that can cause the fruit to be damaged during storage or distribution. Thus, a proper handling is required to avoid this damage. Storage life can be enhanced by using an active material which adsorb ethylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture like activated charcoal from Bidara wood (Ziziphus mauritiana). This study aimed to determine the characteristics of kepok banana that treated with activated charcoal to maintain the its storage life. This study used a completelty randomized design (CRD) with single factor, the variation of the activated charcoal, which consisted of a control (without activated charcoal), 1 gr, 3 gr, and 5 gr of activated charcoal. The fruit was packed in a styrofoam and the activated charcoal packed in tea bag was added into packaging and observed for 11 days. The parameter tested were weight loss, total soluble solid, vitamin C, and colour changes. This study showed that the activated charcoal was significantly maintained the reduction of the weight loss in kepok banana. However, the total soluble solid, vitamin C, and colour changes were not significantly affected by the activated charcoal treatment.