Long Term Osmotic Dehydration Processes of Orange Peel at Atmospheric Pressure and by Applying a Vacuum Pulse

Abstract

Osmotic dehydration is a useful tool to obtain orange peel products with good sensory acceptance and stability. Osmodehydration of orange peel has been carried out in different osmotic solutions (65 Brix sucrose, 55 Brix glucose and concentrated rectified grape must) at 40 and 50 C for different durations (0–10 days), at atmospheric pressure and by applying a vacuum pulse at the beginning of the process. Changes in sample composition (water and soluble solid contents), weight, volume, density and porosity were analyzed. In all conditions, samples reached the same sample solute content as the osmotic solution at about 24 h of treatment, and the concentration rate was faster when vacuum pulse was applied. Mass transfer behavior showed that impregnation of the peel pores occurred to a great extent, not only when applying vacuum pulse, but also in treatments at normal pressure, due to the capillary effects and pressure gradients generated in the tissue associated with structural changes. Impregnation contributed to compositional changes and weight development of the sample. The greater the osmotic solution viscosity, the lower the impregnation level at equilibrium, which was always promoted by vacuum pulse.