Diffusion of Phenol in Apples

The accumulation of phenol in apples was measured by exposing them to phenol vapor at 25 oC. The effective diffusivities of phenol in the rind and flesh of apples were estimated by comparing the experimentally determined fractional uptake curve with the simulated ones based on a consecutive diffusion model in the rind and flesh. Phenol was detected in the flesh of apples after 5 day exposure due to its slow diffusion in the rind. The consecutive diffusion model of phenol in apples simulated well the measured fractional uptake curve when the effective diffusivities of phenol in the rind and flesh were assumed to be 5.0×10.13 m2/s and 1.5×10.10 m2/s, respectively.