Thermal Kinetic Parameters of Thiamin in Wheat Flour at Temperatures Higher than 100°C

ABSTRACT: Kinetic parameters for thiamin degradation were obtained using 2 high-temperature heating methods: (1) atmospheric pressure (AP) with moisture correction and (2) controlled pressure (CP). At AP conditions, 33.3% dry basis (db) moisture wheat flour with 0.35% (db) thiamin was heated in thin steel cells isothermally at 145,160, and 172°C. To obtain the moisture correction factor, a constant-moisture study was conducted at 80°C using 6 moisture contents (6.1% to 36.9%). At CP conditions, flour at 19%, 28.2%, and 33.3% (db) moisture in double-seamed cans was heated in a CP steam retort at 129°C. For the AP method, the corrected activation energy for 33.3% moisture content was 129.5 kJ/g-mol and reaction rate at 80°C was 3.48×10⁻⁴ min⁻¹. Using the CP method, the activation energy and reaction rate were 121.0 kJ/g-mol and 9.69×10⁻⁵ min⁻¹, respectively. Results obtained from 2 methods were not statistically different. These results illustrated that the correction method could be used as an alternative for researchers without access to controlled pressure equipment and transient heat transfer software.     

Confidence intervals for modeling anthocyanin retention in grape pomace during nonisothermal heating

ABSTRACT:  Degradation of nutraceuticals in low- and intermediate-moisture foods heated at high temperature (>100 °C) is difficult to model because of the nonisothermal condition. Isothermal experiments above 100 °C are difficult to design because they require high pressure and small sample size in sealed containers. Therefore, a nonisothermal method was developed to estimate the thermal degradation kinetic parameter of nutraceuticals and determine the confidence intervals for the parameters and the predicted Y (concentration). Grape pomace at 42% moisture content (wb) was heated in sealed 202 × 214 steel cans in a steam retort at 126.7 °C for > 30 min. Can center temperature was measured by thermocouple and predicted using Comsol software. Thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat ( C_p ) were estimated as quadratic functions of temperature using Comsol and nonlinear regression. The k and C_p functions were then used to predict temperature inside the grape pomace during retorting. Similar heating experiments were run at different time–temperature treatments from 8 to 25 min for kinetic parameter estimation. Anthocyanin concentration in the grape pomace was measured using HPLC. Degradation rate constant ( k _{110 °C}) and activation energy ( E_a ) were estimated using nonlinear regression. The thermophysical properties estimates at 100 °C were k = 0.501 W/m °C, Cp = 3600 J/kg and the kinetic parameters were k _{110 °C}= 0.0607/min and E_a = 65.32 kJ/mol. The 95% confidence intervals for the parameters and the confidence bands and prediction bands for anthocyanin retention were plotted. These methods are useful for thermal processing design for nutraceutical products.     

Microwave heat treatment of leek: drying kinetic and effective moisture diffusivity

The effect of microwave drying technique on moisture ratio, drying time and effective moisture diffusivity of white and green parts of leek ( Allium porrum ) were investigated. By increasing the sample amount (100–300 g) at constant microwave output power of 180 W, the drying time increased from 52 to 130 min and increased from 55 to 135 min for white and green parts of leek, respectively. Effective moisture diffusivity values for white and green parts of leek ranged from 0.618 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 2.128 × 10⁻¹⁰ m².s⁻¹ and 0.256 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 0.611 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹, respectively. Among the models proposed, Midilli et al. model gave a better fit for all drying conditions applied. The activation energy for microwave drying of white and green parts of leek was calculated using an exponential expression based on Arrhenius equation; found as 0.9530 and 1.2045 W g⁻¹, respectively. The dependence of drying rate constant on effective moisture diffusivity gave a linear relationship.     

Singlet Oxygen Oxidation Rates of ∝-, γ-, and δ-Tocopherols

ABSTRACT:  The reaction rate constants of 5 × 10⁻⁴ M, 10 × 10⁻⁴ M, and 20 × 10⁻⁴ M α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols with singlet oxygen in methylene chloride containing 1 × 10⁻⁵ M chlorophyll under light at 25 °C for 60 min were studied. The oxidation of tocopherols determined by a spectrophotometric method showed that the losses of 20 × 10⁻⁴ M α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols after 60 min under light were 21%, 16%, and 9%, respectively. The degradation of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols was undetectable in the absence of chlorophyll under light or in the presence of chlorophyll in dark. The losses of tocopherols under light were mainly due to singlet oxygen oxidation. The degradation rates of 20 × 10⁻⁴ M α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols were 6.6 ×10⁻⁶ M/min, 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ M/min, and 2.9 × 10⁻⁶ M/min, respectively. The reaction rates between α-, γ-, or δ-tocopherol and singlet oxygen were 4.1 ×10⁶/M s, 3.3 × 10⁶/M s, and 1.4 × 10⁶/M s, respectively. The singlet oxygen oxidation rate of δ-tocopherol was significantly lower than α- or γ-tocopherol at α= 0.05. As the electron density in the chromanol ring of tocopherol increased, the singlet oxygen oxidation was increased.     

The air drying behaviour of fresh and osmotically dehydrated banana slices

Ripe banana, cut to 10mm thick slabs were osmotically treated in sugar solutions of 35, 50 and 65° Brix for 36h. The initial moisture content fell from a value of 3.13kg H₂O DM to 2.19, 1.63 and 1.16kg H₂O kg⁻¹ for treatment in the three solutions, respectively. These slabs, with Total Soluble Solids (TSS) contents of 26, 34 and 39° Brix, respectively, as well as freshly cut but untreated slabs (15° Brix) were air dried in a cabinet type tray drier to near equilibrium conditions at fixed temperatures from 40 to 80°C and at a constant air speed of 0.62m s⁻¹. Drying was found to occur in the falling rate period only for both banana types and two drying constants K₁ and K₂ were established for a first and second falling rate period of drying. Increasing the drying air temperature significantly enhanced the drying rate and the K-values, except at 80°C when the rates fell, possibly because of case hardening of the slabs. Reducing the slab thickness also improved the drying rate, but increasing the air speed to 1.03m s⁻¹ did not have any profound effect. As the sugar content of the banana slabs increased through the osmotic treatment, drying rates fell. Calculated apparent moisture diffusivities at 60°C ranged from 34.8× 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹ (fresh slab) to 8.8×10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹ for dried (39° Brix) slabs. The moisture diffusivity was significantly lowered as the moisture content dropped in drying and with increased levels of sugar. Previously osmosed and then air dried banana slabs showed appealing colour and texture compared to the fresh banana.     

Osmotic dehydration kinetics of carrot cubes in sodium chloride solution

Osmotic dehydration kinetics of carrot cubes in sodium chloride solution having concentrations 5%, 10% and 15% (w/v), solution temperature 35, 45 and 55 °C, sample to solution ratio (STSR) 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 were studied up to 240 min duration. During the experimentation, effect of solution temperature and process duration was significant and that of solution concentration and STSR were non-significant on water loss. Among the different models applied (Penetration model, Magee Model, and Azuara model), Azuara model best fitted to the experimental data for water loss and solute gain during osmotic dehydration. Effective diffusivities of water and solute were calculated by using the analytical solution of Fick's unsteady state law of diffusion by iterative technique with a computer program. For the above conditions, the effective diffusivity of water was found to be in the range between 2.6323 × 10⁻⁹ and 6.2397 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s and that of solute between 3.1522 × 10⁻⁹ and 4.6400 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s.     

Alginate- and gellan-based edible films for probiotic coatings on fresh-cut fruits

ABSTRACT:  Alginate- (2% w/v) or gellan-based (0.5%) edible films, containing glycerol (0.6% to 2.0%), N-acetylcysteine (1%), and/or ascorbic acid (1%) and citric acid (1%), were formulated and used to coat fresh-cut apple and papaya cylinders. Water vapor permeability (WVP) was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in alginate films (0.30 to 0.31 × 10⁻⁹g m/Pa s m²) than in the gellan ones (0.26 to 0.27 × 10⁻⁹g m/Pa s m²). Addition of 0.025% (w/v) sunflower oil decreased WVP of gellan films (0.20 to 0.22 × 10⁻⁹ g m/Pa s m²). Water solubility of gellan and alginate films at 25 °C (0.47 to 0.59 and 0.74 to 0.79, respectively) and their swelling ratios (2.3 to 2.6 and 1.6 to 2.0, respectively) indicate their potential for coating high moisture fresh-cut fruits. Fresh-cut apple and papaya cylinders were successfully coated with 2% (w/v) alginate or gellan film-forming solutions containing viable bifidobacteria. WVP in alginate (6.31 and 5.52 × 10⁻⁹g m/Pa s m²) or gellan (3.65 and 4.89 × 10⁻⁹ g m/Pa s m²) probiotic coatings of papaya and apple, respectively, were higher than in the corresponding cast films. The gellan coatings and films exhibited better water vapor properties in comparison with the alginate coatings. Values > 10⁶ CFU/g B. lactis Bb -12 were maintained for 10 d during refrigerated storage of fresh-cut fruits, demonstrating the feasibility of alginate- and gellan-based edible coatings to carry and support viable probiotics on fresh-cut fruit.     

APPLICATION OF CORRELATION BETWEEN BIOT AND DINCER NUMBERS FOR DETERMINING MOISTURE TRANSFER PARAMETERS DURING THE AIR DRYING OF COROBA SLICES

The moisture mass transfer parameters characterizing the air drying of coroba slices were determined using the correlation between Biot and Dincet numbers. The air drying was carried out at temperatures of 71, 82 and 93C and velocities of 0.82, 1.00 and 1.18 m/s. Experimental moisture content data for coroba slices were collected. The drying coefficient and lag factor were calculated from the experimental data and were incorporated into the correlation. The moisture diffusion coefficient, Biot number and mass transfer coefficient ranged between 1.147  ×  10 ^{− 12} –3.740  ×  10 ^{− 12}  m²/s, 0.097–0.114 and 0.903  ×  10 ^{− 4} –1.729  ×  10 ^{− 4}  m/s, respectively. The predicted dimensionless moisture content profiles showed adequate agreement with the experimental observations, with the mean relative error between 0.98 and 4.61%.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

As drying is an energy-intensive operation, it has become the prime concern of the researchers to optimize process conditions that lead to energy savings. Moisture transfer parameters are important transport properties needed for accurate modeling in food drying applications. Therefore, accurate determination of these parameters for the drying operation is essential. There is a large amount of studies available in the literature to determine and calculate these parameters for the products subjected to drying. But limited studies have been carried out to determine these parameters using the drying process parameters in terms of lag factor and drying coefficient as first introduced by Dincer and Dost.     

A mathematical model to describe the change in moisture distribution in maize starch during hydrothermal treatment

Instantaneous Controlled Pressure Drop, ' Détente Instantanée Contrôlée ' (DIC) was performed on standard maize starch at residual moisture content (∼12%). Changes in moisture distribution were observed during the treatment and modelled through a phenomenological model based on gravimetric data. The model proposes an exponential variation in the moisture content with processing time at various pressures. The predicted data were found to be in good agreement with experimental data. The values of water activity coefficient ( γ ) obtained from the model decrease, when processing pressure increases; 5.86, 3.71 and 3.36 (dry basis)⁻¹ for 1, 2 and 3 bar, respectively. The mass transfer coefficient decreases, when the pressure increases. Its value ranged from 5.89 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ for 1 bar down to 0.92 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ for 2 bar and 0.77 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ for 3 bar. This coefficient is not only controlled by a simple resistance to the mass transfer, but also by gelatinisation phenomenon that progresses when temperature increases.     

Whey Protein Film Composition Effects on Potassium Sorbate and Natamycin Diffusion

ABSTRACT: To assess the ability of whey protein films to act as antimicrobial carriers, the effect of film composition on preservative diffusion was investigated. Preservative diffusion coefficients were measured at 24°C in whey protein isolate (WPI) films with different WPI-glycerol plasticizer ratios (1:1 to 15:1), beeswax (BW) content, 0% to 40% w/w dry solids, and preservative addition of 0.3% (w/w) natamycin or 1.6% (w/w dry solids) potassium sorbate. Diffusion coefficients for potassium sorbate and natamycin were in the ranges 1.09 × 10⁻¹¹ to 13.0 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s and 6.16 × 10⁻¹⁴ to 37.8 × 10⁻¹⁴ m²/s, respectively, and significantly decreased as the WPI-glycerol ratio increased. No significant difference in sorbate diffusion was seen with the addition of BW.     

Convective hot air drying of blanched yam slices

In this study, a laboratory convective hot air dryer was used for the thin layer drying of blanched yam slices and experimental moisture ratio was compared with Newton, Logarithmic, Henderson and Pabis, modified Henderson and Pabis, approximation of diffusion, modified page 1, two-term exponential, Verma et al. and Wang and Singh models. Among all the models, the approximation of diffusion model was found to satisfactorily describe the kinetics of air-drying of blanched yam slices. The increase in air temperature significantly reduced the drying time with no constant rate period but drying occurs in falling rate period. The effective diffusivity values varied between 7.62 × 10⁻⁸ to 9.06 × 10⁻⁸ m² s⁻¹ and increased with increase in temperature. An Arrhenius relation with an activation energy value of 8.831 kJ mol⁻¹ showed the effect of temperature on moisture diffusivity.     

Modelling ascorbic acid thermal degradation and browning in orange juice under aerobic conditions

The thermal degradation of ascorbic acid (AA) in orange juice was analysed over in a 20–45 °C temperature range. Dehydroascorbic acid (DA), pH and browning were also monitored. Small amounts of AA degradation could be described by first order kinetics, but when only low amounts of AA were retained sigmoidal kinetics were clearly appropriate. The Weibull model was used to describe this pattern (R²_adj > 0.995). The rate constant increased with temperature according to an Arrhenius-type relationship. The activation energy was 38.6 kJ/mol and at the average temperature of the range tested, 32.5 °C, the rate constant was 64.4 × 10⁻³ h⁻¹. The shape constant decreased linearly with temperature, from 2.17 to 1.13. Before the time when the maximum degradation rate occurred, pH, DA concentration and browning remained fairly constant, and then increased. It was found that this behaviour, as well as the dependence of the shape constant on temperature, might be explained by (i) the reconversion of DA into AA, following first order kinetics in relation to DA and second order kinetics in relation to AA, and by (ii) different sensitivities of the reaction rate constants to temperature. Browning was also well described by the Weibull model with a temperature independent shape constant.     

Effect of extrusion process on antioxidant activity, total phenolics and β-glucan content of extrudates developed from barley-fruit and vegetable by-products

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of extrusion processing variables on antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic content (TP) and β-glucan content (BG) of extrudates. Products were prepared by extrusion cooking of barley flour, barley flour–tomato pomace and barley flour–grape pomace blends. Antioxidant activity as measured by the DPPH method was 43.17 ± 0.362, 27.57 ± 0.120 and 82.23 ± 0.785% while TPs, expressed as ferulic acid equivalents, were 5.29 ± 0.126, 4.66 ± 0.023 and 9.15 ± 0.015 mg g⁻¹ dry sample in the extracts obtained from barley flour, tomato and grape pomaces, respectively. Extrusion cooking decreased AA and TP of barley, barley–tomato pomace and barley–grape pomace extrudates. Temperature and screw speed had significant ( P  <   0.05) effect on BGs of barley flour and barley–grape pomace extrudates. However, BG of tomato pomace blend extrudates had significantly ( P  <   0.05) influenced from pomace level only. Results indicated that the content of β-glucan is higher in barley flour than in extrudates of barley flour and pomace blends.     

Biochemical composition and storage stability of a yogurt-like product from African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)

The biochemical and storage properties of African yam bean ( Sphenostylis stenocarpa ) yoghurt-like product were evaluated. Milk extracted from the bean flour using hot water was supplemented with 4% milk protein concentrate (MPC), 0.15% dairy calcium (DC) and 0.5% gelatine (G) (singly or in combination). The milk was fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp bulgaricus at 43 °C for 3–5 h. Supplemented African yam bean (AYB) yoghurts had a gel-like consistency unlike the control (unsupplemented) sample. Total solids, protein, fat, ash, lactic acid bacterial count, lightness (L-value) and viscosity were improved by supplementation. Riboflavin and antioxidants were reduced; macroelements and thiamine were increased by 0.71–15.6% and 16.7%, respectively, because of fermentation. The stability of the product during storage at 4 °C was improved by supplementation and stirring. The pH of the supplemented product ranged from 4.45 to 4.54 and microbial counts from 2.6 × 10⁶ to 1.6 × 10⁸ during storage for not more than 3 weeks.     

Mathematical Evaluation of Effective Moisture Diffusivity in Fresh Japanese Noodles (Udon) by Regular Regime Theory

The effect of moisture content and temperature on the effective moisture diffusivity was investigated to have the optimal drying condition of Japanese noodles (Udon) using regular regime theory. The drying of fresh Udon of different moisture contents was carried out under constant conditions of relative humidity and airflow at 20, 30, and 40 °C. The existence of regular regime periods for fresh noodles was experimentally verified. Effective moisture diffusivity obtained ranged from 2.1 × 10 ^-7 to 3.7 × 10 ^-7 cm² s^-1. The effect of temperature on effective moisture diffusivity was adequately modeled by the Arrhenius relationship, although the effect of moisture content was quite small.     

Mathematical modelling of moisture sorption isotherms and determination of isosteric heat of blueberry variety O'Neil

The sorption isotherms of blueberry variety O'Neil were determined at 20, 40 and 60 °C, for a range of water activity of 0.10–0.95. The isotherms showed that the equilibrium moisture content increased when temperature decreased at constant water activity. The BET, GAB, Halsey, Henderson, Caurie, Smith, Oswin and Iglesias-Chirife equations were tested for modelling the sorption isotherms. The results showed that GAB, BET and Halsey models gave the best fit quality for the experimental desorption data, and BET, Oswin and Henderson for adsorption data as suggested by the statistical tests employed. The net sorption heat was calculated using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation giving 38.62 kJ mol⁻¹ (desorption) and 30.88 kJ mol⁻¹ (adsorption) at a moisture content of 0.01 g water (g d.m.⁻¹). Tsami equation was applied to estimate the net isosteric heat of sorption as function of equilibrium moisture content with satisfactory results.     

Osmotic Dehydration of Tomato in Sucrose Solutions: Fick's Law Classical Modeling

ABSTRACT:  Osmotic dehydration of tomato was modeled by the classical Fick's law including shrinkage, convective resistance at the interface and the presence of water bulk flow. Tomato slices having 8 mm thickness were osmotically dehydrated in sucrose solutions at 50, 60, and 70 °Brix and at 35, 45, and 55 °C. Other experiments were done in a 70 °Brix sucrose solution at 35 °C with tomato slices of 4, 6, and 8 mm thickness and at different motion levels (velocities 0, 0.053, and 0.107 m/s). Tomato weight, water content, and °Brix of the products were measured as a function of processing time (20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 min). Results showed that temperature, concentration, thickness, and solution movement significantly influenced water loss and sucrose gain during the osmotic dehydration of tomato. The model predicted the modifications of soluble solid content and water content as a function of time in close agreement with the experimental data. Experimental Sherwood number correlations for sucrose and water were determined as Sh _s = 1.3 Re ^0.5 Sc _s^0.15 and Sh _w = 0.11 Re ^0.5 Sc _w^0.5, respectively. The effective diffusion coefficients of water (4.97 10⁻¹¹– 2.10 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s) and sucrose (3.18 10⁻¹¹– 1.69 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s) depended only on temperature through an Arrhenius-type relationship.     

BULK THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND DIFFUSIVITY OF SOYBEAN

Bulk thermal conductivity of soybean, determined by the transient heat flow method, exhibited positive linear correlation with moisture content. The bulk thermal conductivity values increased from 0.1157 to 0.1756 W/m-K in the moisture range of 8.1 to 25% d.b. Further, thermal diffusivity of soybean, computed from the values of thermal conductivity, specific heat and bulk density showed linear increase from 2.94 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.07 × 10⁻⁴ m²/h in the specified range of 8.1 to 25% d.b. moisture content.     

Development of a Meat-Like Process Flavoring from Soybean-Based Enzyme-Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (E-HVP)

ABSTRACT: Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to develop a meat-like process flavoring agent from enzyme-hydrolyzed vegetable protein (E-HVP). Five factors were evaluated: pH (3.6 to 8.4), temperature (51 to 99 °C), heating period (0.3 to 2.7 h), amount of ribose (0 to 1 × KHmol) and amount of cysteine (0 to 1 × 10 ³mol). Sensory analysis limited to aroma in terms of overall liking and intensity of specific aroma attributes was investigated. The aroma attributes measured included bean-like, potato-like, Brussels sprouts-like, molasses-like, chicken-like, beef-like, egg-like, roasted and apple sauce-like). Based on the fitted surfaces and consumer test data (overall liking), the optimum reaction conditions for production of a meat-like flavoring were pH 6,99 °C reaction temperature, 1.5 h heating time, 5 × 10⁻⁴ mol of ribose and 5 × 10⁻⁴ mol of cysteine.     

The increase of CO2 permeability of paper packaging with increasing hydration

CO₂ transport through hydrated paper was studied using gas chromatography to measure CO₂ permeability (P) and diffusivity (D). With increasing water content from 0 to 0.8 g water/g paper, P and D increased from 3.47 to 9.03 × 10⁻⁶ m³ m⁻² s⁻¹ bar⁻¹ and from 1.35 to 3.51 × 10⁻⁵ m² s⁻¹, respectively. This resulted from structural changes in the cellulose network as reported in the literature; water sorption isotherms were used to explain these changes using BET theory.