Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – Students of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) Brawijaya University Malang have succeeded in creating a tool that can free fruits and vegetables from microbes using ozone water. They are Dimas Tri Ardiyanto, Singgih Mahardika, Bagus Wisnu, Casilda Aulia Rahmadina, and Faidiyatul Andika Nuriya who have succeeded in designing a tool called Oozter some time ago.
With the tools mentioned, Fruit and vegetables that have gone through the ozonation process will be healthier and will last longer.
These fruits and vegetables will survive in a non-frozen state or outdoors, and will be protected from attacks by viruses or microbes, making them healthier and safer to consume.
Oozter is a sterilizer and coating room on fruit and vegetables using technology dielectric barrier discharge, and combined with edible coating. This tool is effective in eliminating microbes, because ozone is able to enter microbial cells and break down bacterial cell walls.
Dimas, one of the students at FTP UB Malang, said that edible coating can reduce water activity on the surface of the material, so that damage by microorganisms can be avoided, because it is coated coating which can improve the surface structure of the material,
"Thus the surface of the material becomes shinier, reducing dehydration, and fruit weight loss can be prevented. In addition, it can reduce oxygen contact with the material, so that oxidation or rancidity can be inhibited, and the original nature of the product does not change," he added, Saturday (31/03).
The way this system works, he added, first the fruit is put into a washing room that already has water, then the device is turned on. When ozone flows from the device to the washing room, the fruit will be washed with ozone water, and that's where the bacteria are reduced.
“Next, the fruit is put into the chamber coating so that the fruit is free and protected from bacteria. With this tool, in addition to the health of fruits and vegetables, it will also have a longer shelf life, which is between one to two weeks even if stored outdoors," he explained further.
In the future, it is hoped that this tool can be utilized by those who need it, such as supermarkets and other people in general. (say/yon)
