Abstract: Composite phase change cold storage materials with appropriate phase transition temperature, high phase change latent heat, and stable thermal performance parameters were formulated from potassium chloride, glycine, and superabsorbent ploymer (SAP). Optimization of the formulation was carried out by the combined use of one-factor-at-a-time method and Box-Behnken design. The latent heat of phase change was used as the response variable. The optimum combination was determined as follows: potassium chloride 2%, glycine 1.37% and SAP 3.37%. Furthermore, the performance of this material was tested in freeze-thaw cycles as well as its effect on the storage quality of Lentinula edodes. The results indicated the temperature difference within the incubator during the storage of Lentinula edodes showed that the composite cold storage material had higher latent heat than the commercially available materials, and it exhibited no phase separation after 20 freeze-thaw cycles. Data from the temperature and humidity recorder before and after freezing and thawing showed that the composite material had better thermal stability, which could maintain better color and lower mass loss ratio, inhibit membrane lipid peroxidation, and delay the senescence of Lentinula edodes at room temperature of 25 ℃.

Key words: cold storage material, Lentinula edodes, storage, quality