Effects of irradiation on respiration and ethylene production of apple slices

Respiration and ethylene production rates of irradiated apple slices from four apple cultivars were measured for 72 h. Doses less than 1.2 kGy had no effect on rates of CO₂ production and O₂ consumption, and irradiation at doses between 1.2 and 2.4 kGy had minimal effect for all cultivars. Respiratory response of ‘Idared’, ‘Law Rome’ and ‘Empire’ slices to irradiation was curvilinear, with maximum respiration occurring in the 3–6 kGy dose range. Response of ‘Delicious’ slices was linear over the irradiation dose range (0–11 kGy) studied. Respiratory quotient increased with irradiation dose. The degree of maturity of the slices affected respiratory responses. Irradiation reduced ethylene production of all slices. These results suggest that irradiation doses of up to 2.4 kGy can be used with minimum effect on the respiratory physiology of tissues. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of electrical pretreatment conditions on osmotic dehydration of apple slices: Experimental investigation and simulation

Electrical pretreatments at 9 different conditions consisting of the combination of 3 different voltage gradients (20, 27, and 32 V/cm) and 3 different application times (10, 20, and 30 s) were applied on apple slices. Apple slices were osmotically dehydrated in 50% sucrose solution at 40 °C until their total dry matter content (TDM) reached to 40%. The effect of pretreatment conditions on the change of water loss and solid gain during osmotic dehydration was investigated, and effective diffusion coefficients were determined. The time needed to reach up to 40% TDM content was predicted by using the numeric solution of unsteady state mass transfer equations and diffusion coefficients via MATLAB code written. The electrical pretreatments reduced the osmotic dehydration time by in the range of 26–64%. The final water and solid distributions of apple slices were simulated in ANSYS. Modeling and simulation results were in good agreement with experimental data (p < 0.05).Industrial relevanceSince the electrical pretreatment both shortens the osmotic dehydration time and increases the water removed per unit energy used, its application prior to osmotic dehydration processes in the commercial productions will be economical. The proposed modeling and simulation approach for assessment of the effects of electrical pretreatments on osmotic dehydration characteristics may provide valuable information on the scaling up of these conditions in the industrial scale systems.     

Osmotic dehydration kinetics of banana slices considering variable diffusivities and shrinkage

This article studied the use of diffusion models to describe variation of water quantity and sucrose quantity during osmotic dehydration of bananas cut into cylindrical slices. Bananas with radius of 1.7 cm and 18 °Brix (on average) were cut into 1.0 cm of thickness. A solution was proposed for the diffusion equation in cylindrical coordinates using the finite volume method, with fully implicit formulation. The diffusion equation was discretized assuming diffusivities and dimensions with variable values for the banana slices. Boundary conditions of the third kind have also been considered. The osmotic dehydration experiments were conducted in binary solutions (water and sucrose) under conditions of 40 and 60 °Brix and temperatures of 40 and 70°C. Mathematical modeling was proposed to describe the processes presented good results for water quantity and sucrose quantity, with good statistical indicators for all fits.     

Effect of osmotic dehydration on the drying kinetics and quality of cashew apple

The effect of different osmotic pretreatments on cashew apple drying kinetics and product quality were investigated. The osmotic pretreatment was carried out in an incubator at constant temperature and agitation. The drying process was conducted in a fixed bed dryer at different temperatures and constant air velocity. Experimental data were fitted successfully using the Page and the two‐term exponential models for dried fresh and pretreated fruit, respectively. It was found that drying rates of osmosed fruits decreased owing to the presence of infused solutes. Evaluation of the final product was performed by means of ascorbic acid content, water activity and sensorial test. The osmotic pretreated samples showed the highest vitamin C losses and the lowest water activity. The samples pretreated in sucrose solution had the highest acceptance.     

苹果片热风薄层干燥过程中颜色变化的动力学模型

为了研究苹果片在热风薄层干燥过程中的颜色变化规律,分别在60、70、80、90、100℃下对苹果片进行热风薄层干燥处理,以亮度值(L*)、红绿值(a*)、黄蓝值(b*)、总色差(ΔE)、饱和度、褐变指数(BI)等为指标描述苹果片的颜色变化,并分别应用零级和一级反应动力学方程进行数学模型的拟合分析。结果表明,热风薄层干燥过程中,苹果片的L*值随着干燥时间的延长而逐渐降低,而a*值、b*值、ΔE、饱和度、BI值则逐渐升高,且反应速率常数k随着干燥温度的升高而呈现出一定的规律性变化。根据拟合决定系数R2的比较结果,零级反应动力学模型能更好的描述和预测苹果片在热风薄层干燥过程中的L*、a*、b*、ΔE值变化,而饱和度和BI值的变化则更符合一级反应动力学模型。该模型可以对苹果片在热风薄层干燥中的颜色变化进行预测,为优化干燥工艺提供参考。      

A study on the rehydration ability of isolated apple cells after osmotic dehydration treatments

A study on rehydration of isolated apple cells is presented. Isolated cells previously dehydrated in 35% and 25% sucrose solutions were rehydrated in 5% sucrose under the microscope with the aim of analyzing the phenomena that take place during rehydration. Cells response to rehydration was found to be more heterogeneous than their response to hypertonic treatments. Cells showed different degrees of delay in their response, which was related to differences in the formation and preservation of membrane-to-wall connections. Results confirmed that rehydration success is based on the preservation of the structures along both, dehydration and rehydration treatments. During swelling, Hechtian strands are reincorporated to the protoplast as far as they are formed and preserved during dehydration and rehydration; their absence or shortage leading to a loss of rehydration capacity or even membrane lysis. Different stages have been identified during rehydration, mass transfer being coupled with deformation–relaxation phenomena once the protoplast reaches the cell wall. Phenomenological coefficients for water transfer indicated that rehydration kinetics is faster than water transfer during dehydration.     

Mathematical modeling of thin-layer drying kinetics and moisture diffusivity study of apple slices using infrared conveyor-belt dryer

The drying features of apples at different infrared drying settings were investigated. The drying time, moisture-effective diffusion, and activation energy of infrared dried apples were measured experimentally and statistically as a function of slice thicknesses, radiation intensity, and air velocity. The infrared intensity of 0.225, 0.130, and 0.341 W/cm², slice thicknesses of 6, 4, and 2 mm, and airflow of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m/s were used to dry apple slices. The data shows that the drying time reduced as IR increased, but airflow and slice thickness increased. Eight statistical factors were used to compare 11 alternative mathematical drying models. The experimentally acquired drying curves were matched to the thin-layer drying equations. According to the calculations, the Midilli et al. equation had the greatest (efficiency and R²) and lowest (χ², sum of squared errors, standard error of estimate, standard error, standard deviation of difference) values. As a result, this equation is the best for modeling the drying curves of apple slices across all drying circumstances. The optimum moisture diffusivity value varied from 2.59 to 9.07 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s. The mean activation energy was determined to be 19.02–29.83 kJ/mol under various experimental conditions.     

Processing and quality characteristics of apple slices under simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration with continuous heating

This study investigated the effects of various processing parameters on apple slices exposed to infrared (IR) radiation heating in a continuous heating mode for achieving simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration (SIRDBD). The investigated parameters were radiation intensity, slice thickness and processing time. A three-factor factorial experiment design was conducted to determine the influence of parameters on the heating and drying rates, product temperature, moisture reduction, residual polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities and surface color change (ΔE). High radiation intensity and/or thin slices had faster increase of product temperature, and quicker moisture removal and inactivation of PPO and POD, than did low radiation intensity and/or thick slices. The simple page model performed well for describing drying behavior during SIRDBD. The first-order kinetics and the fractional conversion models fitted well for PPO and POD inactivation curves, respectively. Surface color changes of apple slices were mainly due to the decrease of L value and increase of a value, which corresponded to enzymatic browning occurred during the process. To achieve 1 log reduction of POD, the SIRDBD treatments resulted in moisture reductions of 15.35–49.29% and ΔE between 2.030 and 5.518. It has been concluded that SIRDBD with continuous heating could be used as an alternative to the current processing methods for producing high-quality blanched and partially dehydrated fruits and vegetables.     

Processing and quality characteristics of apple slices processed under simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration with intermittent heating

This study investigated the effects of three processing parameters, e.g. product surface temperature, slice thickness and processing time, on blanching and dehydration characteristics of apple slices exposed to simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration (SIRDBD) with intermittent heating. A three-factor factorial experiment design was conducted to determine the influence of processing parameters on product temperature, moisture reduction, drying rate, residual polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities and surface color change. Slice thickness had a significant effect on product quality and processing characteristics, as faster inactivation of enzymes and quicker moisture reduction took place in thinner slices. A Page model performed well for describing drying behavior during the treatment, and first-order kinetics and a biphasic model fit well for PPO and POD inactivation, respectively. Surface color changes (ΔE) of apple slices during prolonged heating resulted from non-enzymatic browning with an increase in b value was observed. In order to achieve a 1 log reduction in POD activity, the process resulted in a reduction in moisture from 20% to 59% and in ΔE from 2.27 to 5.59. It is suggested that SIRDBD with intermittent heating could be used as an alternative to manufacture high quality blanched and partially dehydrated fruits and vegetables.     

60Coγ射线对猪肉中囊尾蚴的辐照杀灭效应

目的 揭示猪肉中囊尾蚴灭活率与辐照剂量的相关关系及最小杀灭剂量,为制定相应辐照卫生规范提供科学依据.方法 以不同剂量<'60>Co γ射线处理感染囊尾蚴的猪肉,并用新鲜猪胆汁孵化剥离出的囊尾蚴,根据成活率计算校正灭活率.结果 辐照剂量与校正灭活率具有线性相关,D<,10>值约为3.8 kGy,4.5 kGy可完全杀灭囊...     

Microwave and convective dehydration of ethanol treated and frozen apple – physical properties and drying kinetics

The objective of this study was to examine how the drying kinetics and physical properties of apples are affected by pre-treatment with 95% ethanol or freezing at –18 °C before microwave-assisted air dehydration at 50, 60 and 70 °C. Microwave heating was used to obtain these temperatures in the centre of the apple cubes. After dehydration the shrinkage and rehydration capacity were measured. The texture of dehydrated and rehydrated samples was analysed with a puncture test in a texture analyser. Samples were also analysed with confocal laser scanning microscopy to determine the correlation between physical and microstructural properties. Diffusivity in the different dehydration processes was calculated. Ethanol-treated apples showed both high rehydration and high effective rehydration capacity compared with the other samples. Freezing before dehydration increased the diffusivity and reduced the firmness of rehydrated apples compared with no pre-treatment.     

Comparative study on cloudy apple juice qualities from apple slices treated by high pressure carbon dioxide and mild heat

Qualities of cloudy apple juices from apple slices treated by high pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) and mild heat (MH) were evaluated. Temperatures were from 25 to 65 °C, time 20 min, and pressure 20 MPa. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was completely inactivated by HPCD and its minimal residual activity (RA) by MH at 65 °C was 38.6%. RA of pectin methylesterase (PME) with HPCD was significantly lower than MH and its minimum was 18%. L value of cloudy apple juice from HPCD-treated apple slices was significantly greater than that from MH-treated apple slices, however, b value, browning degree (BD) and turbidity were lower. And no differences in a value, total soluble solids, pH and conductivity were observed. After 7-day storage at 4 °C, HPCD caused no BD alteration but a significant turbidity loss. MH increased BD at 55 and 65 °C, and led to turbidity loss from 35 to 65 °C. The turbidity was not well related to RA of PME.Industrial relevanceCloudy apple juice is one of the popular fruit juices, and it requires strict processing treatment conditions to protect its quality, especially to prevent enzymatic browning and cloud loss. HPCD is one promising novel non-thermal technique and is likely to replace or partially substitute thermal processes. This study analyzed the effect of HPCD as a pretreatment means on qualities of cloudy apple juice, including inactivating enzymes which are crucial to quality control. Available data provided in this study will benefit the fruit juice industry.     

Inhibitory effects of various antibrowning agents on apple slices

A comprehensive study to evaluate the relative antibrowning activity of 36 known compounds was conducted. Five chemical groups, including carboxylic acids, ascorbic acid derivatives, sulfur containing amino acids, phenolic acids and other miscellaneous compounds, were tested on apple slices under the same conditions. Among the compounds tested, oxalic acid, oxalacetic acid, ascorbic acid-2-phosphate, cysteine, glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, kojic acid and 4-hexyl resorcinol belonged to a group that showed the highest inhibitory activity on apple browning. The minimal concentrations of oxalacetic acid, oxalic acid, cysteine and kojic acid, for an effective antibrowning activity, were 0.25, 0.05, 0.05 and 0.05%, respectively. Oxalic acid showed a synergistic effect when 0.02% oxalic acid was used with 1% ascorbic acid or its derivatives.