Abstract
The effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) and other pretreatments on the drying kinetics, antioxidant activity, firmness and microstructure of Aloe vera gel was investigated during convective drying at 70 °C. The pretreatments analyzed were high hydrostatic pressure, blanching, enzymatic and microwaves. Simulation of drying curves was studied through the application of several mathematical models such as Newton, Henderson and Pabis, Page, Modified Page, Wang and Singh, and Weibull. Among them, the Weibull model provided the best fit for the experimental data. All pretreatments increased the water diffusion coefficient compared to the control sample. Microwaves followed by HHP presented the fastest drying rates. All pretreatments modified the microstructure and hence the texture of the product. HHP and microwaves increased firmness while blanching and enzymatic treatments produced a softer final product. Blanching, microwaves and HHP enhanced A. vera antioxidant activity. However, the HHP pretreated samples showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to the rest. Based on these results, HHP together with convective drying offers the chance of producing dried aloe with high antioxidant attributes.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
