Evaluation of high pressure pretreatment for enhancing the drying rates of carrot,apple, and green bean

Preservation of fresh produce by drying dates back to ancient times and is still an indispensible technique. Conventional drying of fruits and vegetables is often accompanied by changes in color, texture, and taste. Suitable pretreatments can improve the drying process by reducing the drying time, yielding higher-quality products, and energy savings. In this study, two varieties of apples, Amasya and red delicious, green beans and carrots were pretreated with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at different pressure–time–temperature combinations (100–300 MPa for 5–45 min at 20 and 35 °C) prior to drying. The drying experiments were carried out by using a hot-air tunnel dryer at different temperatures (27–85 °C) and air velocities of 0.4 and 0.8 m/s with constant external conditions. Improving the drying conditions by increasing the drying temperature generally masked the effect of HHP pretreatment on drying rate. Generally, pressures of more than 100 MPa caused cell permeabilization resulting in higher drying rates. Among 14 models, the modified Page model was found to best explain the drying behaviors and model constants were evaluated accordingly. The Tukey multiple comparison test was applied on characteristic drying times to evaluate the relative effects of different pretreatments and drying conditions.     

Optimization of microwave baking of model layer cakes

 Response surface methodology was used to optimize the formulation of microwave-baked cakes. The independent variables were water content, emulsifier content baking time, oven power, shortening content and starch type. The quality factors evaluated were specific gravity of batter and volume index, uniformity index and tenderness of the crumb. Constraints for quality factors were obtained by conventional baking of American Association of Cereal Chemists high-ratio cake formulation. Multiple contour plots showed the optimum region for various water and shortening combinations at different emulsifier, time and power levels. Cakes formulated with wheat starch, containing 0.3% polysorbate 60, 133.7% water and 45.2% shortening (flour substitute basis), baked for 6 min at 100% power yielded acceptable cakes that can compete with conventionally baked cakes. Rice and corn cakes had lower quality than conventionally baked high-ratio cakes. Power was found to be the most efficient independent variable affecting all the dependent variables. Received: 26 August 1999 / Revised version: 11 October 1999     

Combined effect of high hydrostatic pressure treatment and hydrogen peroxide on Salmonella Enteritidis in liquid whole egg

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure treatment (HHP) of 250, 350, 450 MPa and hydrogen peroxide additions at different concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1% in liquid whole egg following high hydrostatic pressure treatment at 250 MPa at 20 °C on Salmonella Enteritidis PT4 in liquid whole egg were investigated. At 20 °C for 5 min treatment, 56.63 and 49.38% injury were determined for the treatment pressures of 250 and 350 MPa, respectively. Injury was not detected and total destruction of Salmonella Enteritidis PT4 was obtained for 5 min treatment at 450 MPa. The obtained results indicated that HHP was a more effective treatment than preheating for the enhancement of the effectiveness of H₂O₂. In order to minimize the adverse effect of HHP on food texture, the HHP treatment of 250 MPa was used throughout this study. Therefore, treating with 0.5% H₂O₂ following 5 min HHP at 250 MPa was determined as an effective way of Salmonella Enteritidis destruction in liquid whole egg. The catalase activity retention was determined as 62.26±0.6% after 3.5 min treatment of LWE at 60 °C. A 5-min treatment at 250 and 450 MPa at 20 °C of LWE resulted in a 78.67±2.1 and 65.01±1.8% retention of catalase activity, respectively.     

Investigation of combustion and emission characteristics of n-hexane and n-hexadecane additives in diesel fuel

One of the most important basic requirements of diesel-powered vehicles that they have lower pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. In diesel engines, combustion and engine performance are influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the used fuel. Engine design studies are not enough to increase engine performance and reduce exhaust emissions alone. By adding fuel additives in diesel fuel, the physical and chemical properties of the fuel can be improved. Fuel additives affect engine performance, combustion and emissions positively by exerting catalyst effect during combustion. In this study, n-hexane and n-hexadecane were added in diesel fuel (D0) by volume of 4, 12 % and 20 %. With respect to D0 fuel, in DHD20 and DHX20 fuels engine torque increased by 1.60 % and 1.32 %, respectively, while the brake specific fuel consumption decreased by 3.12 % and 1.98 %, respectively. Maximum cylinder pressures and heat release rate values of the ingredient added fuels increased. It was seen that NO_x emissions increased while HC, CO and soot emissions decreased with increasing contribution ratio.

     

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli by Ultrasonic Waves Under Pressure at Nonlethal (Manosonication) and Lethal Temperatures (Manothermosonication) in Acidic Fruit Juices

The inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli suspended in apple and orange juices by ultrasound under pressure at nonlethal (manosonication, MS) and lethal temperatures (manothermosonication, MTS) was evaluated. Significant differences were found in the MS resistance (35 °C, 110 μm, 200 kPa) of three strains of L. monocytogenes and three of E. coli in pH 3.5 buffer, L. monocytogenes STCC 5672 and E. coli O157:H7 being the most resistant strains. Regarding the interspecific differences, L. monocytogenes showed higher MS resistance than E. coli. Although the pH and treatment medium composition did not significantly change the bacterial MS resistance, the effectiveness of ultrasound increased by both raising the amplitude of ultrasonic waves and the pressure. The energy transmitted to the fruit juices by ultrasonic waves at different combinations of amplitudes (46.5, 90, 110, and 130.5 μm) and pressures (0, 100, and 200 kPa) was also studied, obtaining an exponential relationship between the D _MS values and power input: an increase of 116 W increased the inactivation rate approximately 10-fold in both juices. The MS resistance of both species decreased when heat was applied jointly with ultrasound (MTS), which was more effective in inactivating L. monocytogenes and E. coli than the sum of MS and heat acting simultaneously but independently. Therefore, MTS showed a synergistic lethal effect in acidic juices, whose magnitude was dependent on the treatment conditions.     

Effect of controlled atmosphere storage, modified atmosphere packaging and gaseous ozone treatment on the survival of Salmonella Enteritidis on cherry tomatoes

In recent years, outbreaks of infections associated with raw and minimally processed fruits and vegetables have been reported. The objective of this study was to analyse the growth/survival of Salmonella Enteritidis at spot-inoculated or stem-injected cherry tomatoes during passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), controlled atmosphere (CA) and to compare the results with those of air storage at 7 and 22 degrees C. During MAP, the gas composition equilibrated to 6% O2/4% CO2. CO2 level was maintained as 5% through the term of CA storage at 7 and 22 degrees C. The results demonstrate that S. Enteritidis can survive and/or grow during the storage of tomatoes depending on the location site of the pathogen on fruit, suspension cell density and storage temperature. During MAP, CA and air storage, S. Enteritidis with initial population of 7.0 log10 cfu/tomato survived on tomato surfaces with an approximate decrease of 4.0-5.0 log10 cfu/tomato in population within the storage period; however, in the case of initial population of 3.0 log10 cfu/tomato, cells died completely on day 4 during MAP storage and on day 6 during both CA and air storage. The death rate of S. Enteritidis on the surfaces of tomatoes that were stored in MAP was faster than that of stored in air and in CA. Storage temperature was effective on the survival of S. Enteritidis for the samples stored at ambient atmosphere; cells died completely on day 6 at 7 degrees C and on day 8 at 22 degrees C. Stem scars provided protective environments for Salmonella; an approximate increase of 1.0 log10 cfu/tomato in stem-scar population was observed during MAP, CA and air storage at 22 degrees C within the period of 20 days. Cells survived with no significant change in number at 7 degrees C. During the research, the effect of ozone treatment (5-30 mg/l ozone gas for 0-20 min) was also considered for surface sanitation before storage. Gaseous ozone treatment has bactericidal effect on S. Enteritidis, inoculated on the surface of the tomatoes and can be used for surface sanitation of S. Enteritidis on tomatoes before storage at different conditions. Ten mg/l ozone gas treatment with different time intervals of 5 and 15 min was found to be effective respectively on low and high dose inoculum levels of S. Enteritidis attached for 1 h. Another variable considered during ozone treatment was the 4 h attachment time.     

Effective thermal conductivity of potato during frying: Measurement and modeling

Abstract

The effective thermal conductivities of potato were measured at various stages of the frying process. Samples were taken at 30 s intervals during frying, and two different methods (line heat source and modified Fitch method) were used to measure the effective thermal conductivity. An iterative Kopelman model was used for the prediction of thermal properties. The effective thermal conductivity decreased as frying time increased. The variation of experimental measurements by both methods and modeling were within 10% over most of the range studied. The probe method yielded values that were not significantly different than the modified Fitch method. Lower standard deviations were obtained with the modified Fitch method.