Analysis by non-linear irreversible thermodynamics of compositional and structural changes occurred during air drying of vacuum impregnated apple (cv. Granny smith): Calcium and trehalose effects. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Betoret, E.; Betoret, N.; Castagnini, J.M.; Rocculi, P.; Dalla Rosa, M.; Fito, P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of food engineering. Volume 147(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Apple -- Drying modelling -- Vacuum impregnation -- Calcium -- Trehalose; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2014.09.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-8774

Abstract

Highlights: Apple discs were impregnated with sucrose, trehalose and calcium and after air dried. Mass transfer was analysed applying non linear irreversible thermodynamics. The saturation of the intracellular liquid phase was a critical point in the operation. The energy needed for breakages and the deformations of tissue structure were estimated. Abstract: Apple discs were impregnated with isotonic solutions of sucrose and trehalose with and without calcium addition and after air dried. In the vacuum impregnation experiments, the calcium and the replacement of sucrose by trehalose did not have significant effect on the final volumetric deformation of the samples. During air drying two stages of changes were considered. The first one lasted until the saturation of the intracellular liquid phase, and the second one from the saturation of the intracellular liquid phase until the end of the drying process. Mass transfer has been analysed applying nonlinear irreversible thermodynamics. Water flux, water chemical potential and tissue shrinkage have been taken into account in order to accurately describe the mass transfer phenomena during air drying. A precise definition of chemical potential allowed estimating the partial molar energy needed for breakages and the reversible and irreversible deformations of tissue structure coupled with mass transfer during air drying of apple.