10/04/2024
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Plastics Engineering, invites you to attend a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal defense by Sandeep Tripathi on "Interactions of Food Items with Packaging Materials: Understanding Properties and Performance."

Candidate Name: Sandeep Tripathi
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Thursday, Oct., 17, 2024
Time: 9-10:45 a.m.
Location: Perry 415

Committee:
Advisor: Amy M. Peterson, Ph.D., Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Committee Members

  • Wan-Ting (Grace) Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Akshay Kokil, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Jo Ann Ratto Ross, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Brief Abstract:
This work aims to understand how food items and storage conditions affect the properties of packaging materials. Two categories of food items will be investigated: retort and non-retort. Retort food items require rigorous processing, while non-retort items only need high-barrier packaging to provide the desired shelf life. Multilayer pouches will be used in this study to pack different food items in both categories. Autoclave retorting will be done on empty retort pouches to understand the effect of autoclave retorting on the barrier, mechanical, morphological, thermal, and chemical properties of the pouches. Storage studies will also be performed to understand the effect of retorting on properties over a period of time. The same pouches will be packed with different food items, and how retorting, food items, and storage conditions affect the properties of pouches will also be evaluated. This study also aims to understand the effect of autoclave retorting on the properties of commercially available recycle-ready retort pouches and post-consumer recycled material containing retort pouches from different manufacturers. The effect of different non-retort food items and different storage conditions on the properties of packaging materials will also be evaluated in this study. Non-retort food items will be packed in foil-based, non-foil-based, and bio-based pouches. Overall, this study aims to advance understanding of interactions of food items with packaging materials and how these interactions affect packaging material properties.