Optimization of Osmotic Dehydration of Toona Sinensis Leaves Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Toona Sinensis leaves were dehydrated by osmosis. The effects of temperature, immersion time, sucrose and salt concentration on water loss and solid gain during osmotic dehydration were investigated by response surface methodology. Consequently, second order polynomial models were developed for water loss and solid gain as a function of the experimental parameters. By applying Excel’s Solver feature, an optimal solution for maximum water loss and minimum solid gain was given at temperature of 30oC, sucrose concentration of 50%, salt concentration of 10%, and immersion time of 4 hours.