Study of the process of infrared drying of lactic starter cultures

Abstract

An assessment of the current state of the Russian lactic starter market is given, which reflects the dependence on imported raw materials mainly from European manufacturers. To reduce dependence and ensure food security during the sanction period, the scientific and technical community of the Russian Federation has been set with a task to create technologies that allow obtaining high-quality lactic starter cultures and fermented products based on them. The article discusses the drying of lactic starter culture to increase storage terms and conditions. An important point in the dehydration process is the preservation of biologically active substances (lactic acid organisms, bifidobacteria) in the starter dry residue. The basic technologies of starter culture drying are considered, an alternative technology of IR radiation with the use of membranous electric heaters is proposed. The experimental kinetic dependences and the equation of the drying process of lactic starter cultures were obtained on the manufactured laboratory stand. Laboratory tests of the dried starter culture showed full compliance of the content of biologically active substances with the starting material, GOST RF and a high degree of recoverability, which indicates the feasibility of developing IR radiation technologies and introducing them into the processing of lactic and lactic acid raw materials.