The influence of polydextrose on freeze-dried unripe acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) by the concept of a state diagram

Abstract

Unripe acerola powders obtained from freeze-drying without (AV) and with polydextrose (AP) were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vapor sorption isotherms at (25, 35, and 45) °C in water activity ( a w ) range of 0.10–0.90. State diagrams built from DSC results, such as the glass transition ( T g ) and freezing ( T m ) points, were compared with those of the sorption isotherms. The Gordon-Taylor equation presented a good fit for T g , in which the solids glass transition increased and the k parameter decreased in the presence of polydextrose. The isotherms obtained were Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) type III, and the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) equation fitted to the experimental data showed slightly higher monolayer water content for AP, and not affected by temperature. Although there was a divergence in the stability when comparing the criteria of a w and T g , polydextrose increased the a w and T g of freeze-dried unripe acerola and conferred a stabler powder. • The stability criterion between water activity and glass transition was studied. • State diagrams of unripe acerola with polydextrose were built. • Polydextrose used as a drying aid increased the glass transition temperature. • Sorption isotherms of unripe acerola powders were BET Type III.