Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Solubility and Diffusivity in Solid Food Matrices: A Review of Past and Current Knowledge

Oxygen and carbon dioxide solubility and diffusivity are 2 key parameters to understand gas transfer in food matrices. Knowledge of these parameters could help to predict gas concentration in modified atmosphere packaging and, consequently, to predict shelf-life of the product through the development of appropriate mathematical models. The aim of this review is to present the existing methodologies to quantify O2 and CO2 contents in food, especially in solid food matrices which is very challenging. There is a focus on how these methodologies could be used to determine gas transfers kinetics. Data of O2/CO2 solubilities and diffusivities in food are collected and compared with a specific emphasis on the food characteristics and factors impacting them. An analysis of the current state of knowledge in solid food matrices is carried out to tentatively build a general predictive model of the O2 and CO2 solubility and diffusivity extendable to any kind of food matrix.