Dehydration Of Fruits Research Articles

Substantiating the feasibility of processing the secondary product obtained after osmotic dehydration of dried apricots

The object of research is the production technology of dried apricots by the method of osmotic dehydration and the derived products that are formed in the process. An improved technology for processing the secondary product of apricot production has been proposed, which is based on increasing the osmotic pressure in the cells of plant raw materials by increasing the concentration of dry substances. The improved technology involves the use of the process of osmotic dehydration in a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of up to 55±5 °C as an alternative to the blanching process. This provides a reduction in drying time to 1 hour due to the partial transition of water from the fruit cells into the sugar solution. The spent osmotic solution contains biologically valuable substances. The mass fraction of dry substances in the spent solution decreased by 17.4 %. It was found that spent osmotic solutions contain 15.87±0.05 mg/100 carotenoids, which cause their orange color. Color stability is likely caused by the acidity of the osmotic solution (pH=3.7±0.05). As a result of hydrolysis, sucrose, which was the main component of the osmotic solution before dehydration of apricot fruits, is partially inverted into glucose (21.41±0.05) and fructose (19.99±0.05 g/100 g). Fortified sugar had a light beige color, pure without stains and impurities, sweet taste, and aroma of apricot. The jelly-like soft drink, made on the basis of a derivative product formed during the production of dried apricots, had a sweet taste, a slight aroma of apricot. The color of the meal is cream. Light straw-colored jelly, sweet in taste, with a faint aftertaste and aroma of apricot, had a jelly-like uniform consistency that can be cut. The study showed the possibility of practical application of derived products, which are usually disposed of, for production

Analysis and assessment of potential risks in the production of enriched sugar

The object of research is the quality indicators of sugar enriched with derivatives of the processing of the fruits of wild plants (viburnum, mountain ash, sea buckthorn, black elder) and potential dangerous factors that may arise during its production. This study is aimed at the analysis and assessment of all risks that arise in the production of sugar enriched with derivatives of processing of wild raw materials. For the production of enriched sugar, pre-cleaned fruits were frozen at a temperature of –18±2 °С, and after defrosting, they were partially dehydrated by the method of osmotic dehydration. For this, a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of 50±5 °C was used (hydromodule 1). The duration of osmotic dehydration was 1 hour. The derivative product formed as a result of osmotic dehydration of fruits (sugar solution) was used to enrich granulated sugar in the amount of 10 % by mass of sugar. After thorough mixing with the solution, the sugar was dried in a laboratory vacuum dryer and analyzed. Based on the principles of HACCP, a detailed description of the product and its use with a specific purpose has been developed. In particular, the description of all stages of production, from the initial materials to the processing and packaging processes, as well as the definition of all possible dangerous factors that can affect the safety and quality of products. The identification and assessment of all hazardous factors included the analysis of all possible threats to the safety and quality of products at each stage of production. To ensure the quality and safety of enriched sugar obtained from wild raw materials, an assessment of potential dangerous factors at all stages of production was carried out. A HACCP plan has been developed that allows effective management of critical control points and evaluation of the results of this management. This will allow potential manufacturers to produce safe and competitive products of high quality. The practical implementation of these proposals will allow bringing new products to the market - elderberry, sea buckthorn, rowan and viburnum sugar.

Determining the possibility of making mulberry wine by using the osmotic dehydration process

This study aimed to determine the possibility of using osmotic dehydration in the production of mulberry wine. Mulberry fruits (Mórus nígra L.) were mixed with 70 % sucrose solution and osmotic dehydration was carried out (τ=1 h, t=50±5 °C). At the stage of active fermentation, the osmotic solution separated from the fruits was added to the must (10 % by mass). Partially dehydrated mulberry fruits were infused for 12 hours in water at a temperature of 10–15 °C. The formed must was separated from the fruits, mixed with an osmotic solution, and a solution formed during pressing of dehydrated fruits. The mixture was fermented at 20±2 °C for 20 days under static conditions. At the end of fermentation, the young wine was kept at a temperature of 3–5 °C for 1 month. A second transfusion was performed, and its quality indicators were analyzed. It was established that the osmotic solutions formed during the osmotic dehydration of black mulberry fruits contain 42.60±0.25 mg/100 g of anthocyanins, which makes them an effective basis and additive for giving wine the desired sensory characteristics. The high content of anthocyanins in wine (35.8±0.5 mg/100 g) provides for its stable red-ruby color. As a result of hydrolysis, sucrose, which was the main component of the osmotic solution before mulberry dehydration, is transformed into glucose (27.74±0.05 g/100 g) and fructose (28.60±0.05 g/100 g). This significantly increases its biological value and gives the wine a harmonious taste characteristic of fruit wines. The wine made on the basis of mulberry fruit processing products is rated at 7.5 points. It had a pleasant taste and color, but a poorly developed aroma. Mulberry wine was classified as semi-dry because it had a low alcohol content (6±0.5 %), a low concentration of sugars (13.0±0.5 g/dm3), and a high concentration of volatile acids (1.4±0.5 g/dm3)

Determination of the antioxidant potential of processing products of osmotically dehydrated chokeberry fruits and beer enriched with them

The demand for functional and health products, as well as the depletion of traditional raw materials, encourages the use of new types of resources. Aronia melanocarpa is a non-traditional plant raw material that has significant potential but is almost never used in the food industry. The aim of this study is to determine the antioxidant potential of processed products of osmotically dehydrated chokeberry fruits and beer enriched with them. The object of the study is the processing products of osmotically dehydrated chokeberry fruits and beer enriched with them. Chokeberry fruits were dehydrated by osmotic dehydration and drying, ground into powders, and their antioxidant properties were determined. Osmotic solutions and fresh fruits were analyzed for flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. Three experimental samples of beer were produced using traditional technology (K) and with the addition of 6 % (D1) and 10 % (D2) osmotic solutions separated from partially dehydrated fruits. An organoleptic analysis of beer was carried out and its antioxidant activity was determined. The results showed that when using osmotic dehydration, the loss of flavonoids was significantly less (29.74 mg K/100 g) than when using the traditional drying method (39.13 mg K/100 g). When applying the proposed regime of fruit dehydration, about 70 % of anthocyanins are retained. While the traditional method preserves only 59 % of these pigments. The sugar solution on the surface of the fruit prevents significant loss of antioxidant compounds. This explains the higher antioxidant activity (9.86 mmol Trolox/100 g) in samples dehydrated using osmotic dehydration. Adding a chokeberry osmotic solution to beer in an amount of 6–10 % leads to an increase in its antioxidant activity by 9–16 mmol Trolox/100 g

Study of the quality indicators of the osmotic solution obtained after dehydration of apricot fruits

This study is designed to determine the feasibility of using osmotic solutions formed after dehydration of apricot fruits for sugar fortification. The purpose of the study is to analyze the quality indicators of osmotic solutions obtained as a result of osmotic dehydration of apricot fruits and to develop a rational direction for their further use. The subject of the study was apricot fruits (Prunus armeniaca) of the Aurora variety and enriched sugar. It is proposed to enrich sugar with a derivative product formed during the production of candied fruits using the method of osmotic dehydration and drying from apricot fruits. The results of the study showed that, according to organoleptic indicators, the osmotic solution formed after the production of candied apricot fruits corresponded to the raw material. The mass fraction of dry substances in the osmotic solution is reduced by 25,24 %, and sucrose by 20,3 % due to dilution with cell juice of apricot fruits. The osmotic solution had a fairly high color, probably due to saturation with carotenoids, the concentration of which is 15,87 mg/100 ml. Due to the addition of osmotic solutions, the color of sugar increases by 87.3 units. ICUMSA, however, the sugar solution is transparent, without insoluble sediment, mechanical and other impurities. In addition, sugar is enriched with carotenoids, the mass concentration of which is 1.13 mg/100 g. The analysis showed that the addition of osmotic solutions to sugar does not entail a deterioration in their microbiological composition. A model has been developed for the rational processing of apricot fruits and the use of waste osmotic solutions, which can become the basis for sugar enrichment technology

Robust Design Applying Taguchi’s Orthogonal Matrices to Determine the Optimal Work Parameters in The Fruit Dehydration Process in A Solar-Gas Hybrid Dehydration Equipment Under Environmental Conditions at 2800 MASL

In this research work, a prototype dehydrator Solar-gas was designed and manufactured in order to dehydrate tropical fruits under ambient conditions at 2800 MASL. This equipment requires the development of study of parameter variation to determine the most optimal ones under these altitude conditions to which the Taguchi orthogonal matrices have been applied, varying at two levels the different parameters involved such as temperature, relative humidity, mass of product to be processed, product distribution within the equipment. By using this equation, the best combination of them was determined to achieve an efficient process and adequate dehydration. Validation of effectiveness is carried out by determining the homogeneity of the dehydrated product.

Biochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Dried Fruit Produced from Apricot Cultivars Grown in Latvia

The present study focused on evaluating the biochemical profiles of four apricot cultivars (cv.) (Prunus armeniaca L.) grown in Latvia and demonstrating their processing to obtain the food product, dried candied fruit (DCF). The fingerprinting of apricot fruit approached by LC-MS and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy revealed the abundance of bioactives responsible for the antioxidant activity. The outstanding composition of group compounds, i.e., phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, was observed in the cv. ‘Dimaija’, followed by cv. ‘Gundega’ and cv. ‘Velta’. The lowest values were found in the cv. ‘Boriss’ and fruit from a market of Greek origin. However, the latter two contained the highest carotenoid levels due to a more pronounced maturity. Amongst the 13 individual phenolics detected, rutin, chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, catechin, and epicatechin prevailed. The concentrations observed were the highest in cv. ‘Dimaija’, followed by cv. ‘Velta’ and cv. ‘Gundega’. Osmotic dehydration and convective drying of apricot fruit variedly influenced the content of bioactives in DCF products. The most substantial decrease due to thermal lability was observed in the vitamin C content in DCF, accounting for a 95.3% loss for all cultivars. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids in DCF, on average, was 62.7%, 49.6%, and 87.6% lower than that observed in the raw fruit, respectively. On average, the content of individual phenolics in DCF, such as rutin and chlorogenic acid, decreased by 63.8% and 20.8%, respectively. The decline in the content of bioactives was conditioned by the physical migration of the cell components to the hypertonic solution. However, the increase in the content of cell wall-bound phytochemicals, such as catechin and epicatechin, after osmotic dehydration and convective drying, was observed in DCF, corresponding to a 59.5% and 255.64% increase compared with the raw fruit, respectively. Panelists generally responded positively to the developed DCF; however, greater preference was given to products with a lower phenolic content, such as cv. ‘Boriss’ and those produced from the market fruit. It is believed that the high flavan-3-ols content, along with chlorogenic acid, contributed to the bitter taste of DCF. Overall, apricot fruits represent the abundance of bioactives retained in DCF after osmotic dehydration and convective drying. The findings observed in the current study allow to consider DCF as a functional food; however, given the high sugar content, their consumption should be in moderation.

Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of residual persistence, decontamination and dehydration on cyantraniliprole residues in Chilli

The dissipation behavior and persistence of cyantraniliprole residues in chilli and soil were assessed using high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Analytical methodology was suitably validated for recovery, precision, accuracy and sensitivity Limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were found to be 0.01 and 0.003 mg kg-1. After two applications of cyantraniliprole @ 60, 75, 120 g a.i ha-1, the average initial deposits were found to be 0.69–0.72, 0.88–0.92, 1.40–1.42 mg kg-1, respectively, years 2021 & 2022. Half-life values (T1/2) for cyantraniliprole in chilli were 3.24, 3.53 and 3.89 days in 2021 and 3.78, 3.62 and 3.79 days in 2022, respectively for 60, 75, 120 g a.i ha-1 dose. Household processing methods were evaluated for decontamination of residues such as tap water wash, luke warm water wash, baking soda, common salt, acetic acid, potassium permanganate and boiling water. Among these methods, washing with boiling water was found to be most effective in reducing cyantraniliprole residues (up to 86%) followed by soaking in potassium permanganate (up to 72.27%) and soaking in baking soda (up to 69.37%). After dehydration of red chilli fruits, highest processing factor was 2.40 and 2.45 after application of cyantraniliprole @ 75 and 120 g a.i ha-1 in the test years.

Combined osmotic pretreatment and hot air drying: Evaluation of drying kinetics and quality parameters of adajamir (Citrus assamensis)

Adajamir (Citrus assamensis) is a highly perishable but nutritional fruit. Hot air drying is ubiquitous in food preservation but not quality friendly. However, drying pretreatments play an indispensable role preserving fruits and vegetables. The aim of this study was, therefore, to reveal the hot air drying kinetics of osmotically pretreateated adajamir and investigate the quality parameters (total phenolic contents, antioxidant capacity, and vitamin C). Adajamir slices were subjected to osmotic pretreatment (10% sucrose, 10% fructose, and 2% NaCl), subsequently, dried in a hot air dryer at 50 °C, 30% relative humidity (RH), and with a velocity of 1 ms−1. The drying kinetics were studied using three mathematical models: Newtonian model, Henderson and Pabis model, and Page model. The result depicted that effective diffusivity was highest (9.5 ± 0.2a × 10−6 m2s−1) in untreated samples compared to the treated samples, and the Page model was the one with the best fitness to explain the drying behavior. Regarding quality, the pretreatments provided better retention of all quality parameters compared to the untreated samples. In addition, osmotic treatment with sucrose had the best quality retention capability. The study will contribute to the optimization of thermal processing parameters in fruit dehydration. Eventually, this research will expedite future research pertinent to innovative combined drying techniques of citrus fruit.

Energy-Efficient Modes of Dehydration of Pome Fruits during Microwave Treatment in Combination with Convection

The aim of the work is to significantly increase the efficiency of the dehydrating process of fruits with seeds, by treating it with microwaves in combination with convection. To achieve the purpose, an electrical installation was designed, produced, tested, optimized and implemented, which applies the combined technological treatment method in the dehydration process. Pears were selected as the object of the research in particular, because currently the production of these seeded fruits is not fully exploited, but they are of an increased interest for the agricultural producers and for specialized enterprises, and their dehydration by the methods currently used is difficult, especially because of the browning effect that occurs in the heat treatment process. The essential results obtained based on the research carried out, regarding the application of the elaborated installation, are: reduction of electricity consumption and treatment duration, increase in productivity and quality of dehydrated fruits. At the same time, the developed installation is simple in construction, has low cost and is easy to use, and during fruit processing it allows strict monitoring of the technological parameters, and researches demonstrated a high level of safety in operation. The significance of the obtained results lies in the solution to a series of problems, which are currently faced by the enterprises specialized in fruit processing, in particular by significantly increasing the efficiency of the process of dehydration of pears, based on the proposed method of combined treatment, predominantly with increasing the speed of dehydration, energy efficiency, quality of final products and profitability.

Use of coconut sugar as an alternative agent in osmotic dehydration of strawberries.

This study aimed to evaluate coconut sugar (CS) as an alternative osmotic agent to sucrose for the osmotic dehydration (OD) of strawberries. OD was performed by immersing strawberries cut into 13.6±0.4mm edge cubes in osmotic solutions of CS or sucrose, at two different concentrations (40% and 60%, w/w), with and without application of vacuum (AV) in the first 20min of the process. The total OD time was 300min. Evaluations of the kinetics of solid gain (SG), water loss (WL), and weight reduction (WR) were performed at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300min. SG, WL, and WR increased over the OD time and showed values of up to 7.94%, 63.40%, and 55.94%, respectively. AV increased WL, WR, shrinkage, pH, and total color difference and decreased anthocyanin, ascorbic acid (AA), phenolic, and antioxidant contents. The higher concentration led to higher SG, WL, WR, shrinkage, hardness, and lower moisture content, water activity, anthocyanin, AA, phenolic, and antioxidant contents. The use of CS instead of sucrose had little influence on strawberry properties, except pH and color responses. The optimal treatment was using a 60% CS solution without AV, showing a very distinct color change, hardness increased by approximately 4.5 times and maintenance of acidity, anthocyanins, AA, total phenolics, and antioxidants of 38.0%, 39.6%, 11.8%, 30.0%, 31.1%, and 30.3%, respectively, compared to fresh strawberries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Osmotic dehydration of fruit is a process traditionally carried out using sucrose. However, increasing health concerns have made consumers seek alternative sugars to sucrose. The use of coconut sugar made it possible to produce osmo-dehydrated strawberries different from the traditional one, maintaining product quality and process efficiency.

Dangler for Accelerated Dehydration: A Novel System for Assessing the Impacts of Relative Humidity on Fruit Water Loss During Cold Storage of Blueberries

Blueberries are prone to dehydration during storage. Firmness is one of the most critical quality attributes associated with this period, with the loss of water from the fruit representing the most significant limitation for the fresh market. Therefore, one of the great challenges is maintaining the quality characteristics of the fruit in shipments by sea, which can take up to 60 days when sent from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. The random arrangement of each fruit within a packaging unit (different proportions of the stem scar and cuticular surface exposed to the environment) represents an essential source of variation in the prediction of softening during the storage period. A special device, referred to as a dangler for accelerated dehydration (DAD), was designed to expose nearly the entire fruit surface to the environment and determine the impact of factors such as relative humidity and the role of the stem scar and cuticle on fruit water loss. Consequently, to evaluate the ability of DADs to find differences in fruit dehydration, blueberries sampled at early, peak, and late harvest dates were placed in DADs and exposed to three controlled levels of relative humidity (30%, 65%, and 96% relative humidity; 1.2 ± 0.7 °C) for 10 days. Berries within the DADs were untreated, immersed in hexane for 5 seconds to remove bloom, painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end to seal the stem scar or immersed in hexane for 5 seconds, and painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end. At each harvest, fruit weight loss was significantly affected by the fruit and RH treatments, as well as the interaction between them. A regression analysis of the control treatment indicated that water loss at lower relative humidities occurred faster in fruit from the first harvest. The results reveal that DADs can be used to characterize preharvest and postharvest stimuli at an individual level and within a short time (10 days).

Design Analysis of Dehydration Trays for Farm Products

Abstract: Dehydration of fruits and vegetables is one of the oldest types of preservation techniques well known to man and consists mainly of sun drying or artificial drying of fruits and vegetables. Although food preservation is the primary reason for dehydration, dehydration of fruits and vegetables also reduces the cost of packaging, storage and transportation by reducing the burden and volume of the final product.

Effects of drying methods on nutrients and organoleptic properties of dried pawpaw chips

Fruit dehydration is one of the ways of preserving fruits and supplying consumers with healthy and nutritious fruits, particularly when these fruits are in their off-seasons. Pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) is a tropical plant grown for its edible fruit, having commercial importance because of its high nutritive and medicinal value. However, it is highly perishable. Hence, its processing and preservation are important to retain the product quality and nutritional value. This study investigated the effect of drying methods on the nutrient and organoleptic qualities of pawpaw. Fresh pawpaw fruits were purchased at Oje market in Ibadan, Nigeria. The pawpaw samples were sorted, washed with clean water, peeled and sliced into chips, then the chips were dried using five techniques - solar, open sun, oven, cabinet and dehydrator. Fresh and dried samples were evaluated for physico-chemical properties, selected bioactive compounds, colour, fibre, microbial quality and organoleptic properties. Significant (p≤0.05) differences were observed in the effects of the drying techniques employed. The pawpaw samples that were dried in the dehydrator had significantly (p≤0.05) higher amounts of bioactive compounds and TSS (8.10 ± 0.00°Bx). They also had the most appealing organoleptic properties and showed the least bacterial growth (0.14 ± 0.21 x 104cfu/g) in comparison to the samples dried using other techniques and the fresh sample (91.5 ± 13.44 x 104). While the sun-dried samples had the least fungal load (0.05 ± 0.07 x 103) in comparison to the samples dried using other techniques and the fresh sample (315 ± 7.07 x 103). Results also showed that the samples dried in the dehydrator were the lightest (26.81 ± 0.01) and yellowest (11.42 ± 0.00) of all dried samples. Generally, findings from the study showed that dried fruits portray a greater nutrient density and increased shelf life compared to fresh fruits.

La cadena productiva del mango. Factor clave para el desarrollo local en la zona oriente del Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca

Objective: To identify the productive chain of mango in the eastern zone of the Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Methodology: Exploratory and descriptive in nature with a mixed approach. Through a documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with producers, as well as producer organizations, packinghouse administrators and the representatives of municipal governments in the area. Results: Four links are identified in the mango production chain: primary production, storage-packaging, processing, and commercialization. In the first, an increase in cultivated land with inputs acquired mainly in the area. Second, a competitive position of the packers with international market is observed. Third, a still incipient processing industry is presented, with a single fruit dehydration company. Fourth, a growing national and international market is notable. Limitations: The study began a few weeks after the end of the harvest period, which prevented observing the economic dynamics that were generated in the area. Conclusions: In the eastern area of the Istmo de Tehuantepec, small producers are required to have greater ownership of the production chain with the intention of achieving fairer income. At the same time, it is necessary to encourage the transformation of the mango, both industrially and by hand in the different links of the production chain. Finally, within the production area, the elements of the production chain that are still outside geographically must be integrated.

The study of the indicator of water activity during vacuum drying оf apples and pears growing republic of Kazakhstan

The article studied the patterns of changes in water activity during vacuum drying of apple varieties: Baiterek, Sarkyt and Saya and pear varieties: Syilyk, Zhazdyk and Nagima. Studies have established that in all the studied varieties of apple and pear, the following pattern is observed: in the first four hours of the drying time, the water activity indicator decreases monotonously, and the subsequent drying time drops sharply. This pattern is explained by the fact that after four hours of drying time, part of the remaining weakly bound moisture is gradually removed from the product, and then the bound moisture. Studies have shown that dehydration of fruits, the water activity characterizing the qualitative properties of the product decreases: for apple varieties from 1.0 to 0.62 ± 0.01, for pear varieties this indicator decreases from 1.0 to 0.65 ± 0.04. On the basis of mathematical processing of experimental data, a power-law dependence of water activity on the duration of drying was established. The established pattern of changes in water activity from the duration of drying in subsequent works will be used to determine the optimal drying mode for apples and pears in order to produce high-quality dry powders for the food industry.

Shaping the Properties of Osmo-Dehydrated Strawberries in Fruit Juice Concentrates

The growing interest in high-quality food leads to looking for new solutions in the production of natural fruit snacks. Osmotic dehydration is one of the processes, which can be used to obtain a minimally processed product as well as to give it specific characteristics. Usually, a sucrose solution is used as an osmotic agent; however, the use of chokeberry, strawberry, or cherry juice concentrates can be beneficial in the process of the osmotic dehydration of fruits. The process of the dehydration of strawberries with the use of fruit juice concentrates (chokeberry, strawberry, or cherry) and a sucrose solution as a standard was carried out at a temperature of 30 °C for 3 h. The kinetics of the processes (weight reduction, water loss, and solid gain) were evaluated as well as physical (water activity, color parameters L*, a*, b*, ΔE, texture with maximum force and compression work, and structure) and chemical properties (dry matter content, total polyphenols content, total anthocyanin content, vitamin C, antioxidant activity with DPPH and ABTS radicals, spectral analysis with FTIR method, sucrose, glucose and fructose content, and thermal decomposition with TG analysis). The use of fruit juice concentrates positively influences the enrichment of the final product with bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanin and vitamin C. Strawberry and chokeberry juice concentrates have proven to be good hypertonic media for increasing the antioxidant activity of dehydrated fruit. Moreover, the use of fruit concentrates has a positive effect on the sugar profile of dehydrated strawberries.

Plant protein nanogel–based patchy Janus particles with tunable anisotropy for perishable food preservation

AbstractJanus particles with anisotropic surfaces possess considerable potential for biological functionalization. However, little is known about the effect of surface anisotropy of Janus particles on the shelf life of perishable food. Herein, plant protein–based nanogels prepared by acylated rapeseed protein isolate (ARPI) are exploited as novel building blocks to decorate the surface of latex particles for Janus particle synthesis. The surface anisotropy of patchy latex particles can be facilely tailored via the suspension polymerization of the Pickering emulsion using ARPI nanogels as stabilizers. The surface distribution of ARPI nanogel on latex particles can be controlled by varying the aqueous phase conditions, and thus, the tunable hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (viz., Janus balance) varied from 0.78 to 1.76 for resulting patchy latex particles. Patchy latex particles with varied Janus balance were further investigated for the effects of their anti‐perishable coatings on perishable fruit preservation. The anisotropic patchy latex particles can act as a novel type of antibacterial agent to inhibit Ascomycota microorganisms’ growth on the surface of fruits and reduce the dehydration and respiration of fruits, all of which devote to a lengthened shelf life while being safe. Furthermore, it is found that the patchy latex particle with a spatial pattern of a hydrophobic area on its surface occupying 51.3% (Janus balance = 0.95) extends the shelf life of perishable food more effectively than that of other spatial arrangements. Overall, the exploration of anisotropic Janus particles offers an alternative strategy to preserve perishable food without using antimicrobial agents.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES ON SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SUBJECTED TO DEHYDRATION TREATMENTS

The main objective of the work is the study of the process of dehydration of fruits and vegetables, using two different types of equipment for dehydration: convective dryer, equipped with drying trays; microwave field dehydration instalation, with continuous flow. In the case of the convective dryer, the divided products will be placed evenly on the drying trays and the following specific parameters of the dehydration process will be determined: the initial and final humidity of the products; initial and final air temperature; the initial and final humidity of the air. In the case of microwave dehydration equipment, the divided products will be placed in a uniform layer on the conveyor belt, which moves at a constant speed of 4.5 cm/min. The following parameters will be measured: the mass of the sample; the amount of water evaporated in the measuring interval; the final mass of the sample; the final humidity at the end of the dehydration cycle. The results obtained in the case of using the convective dryer with drying trays indicate that the measured values fall perfectly within the admissibility range imposed by the technology,regarding all the studied parameters. In the case of using the dehydration installation with microwaves, the dehydration process is very intense, producing rapid heating of the product to over 600 C0, in approx. 5 min., in its entire volume, which leads to the inactivation of oxidative enzymes and reduces the risk of thermal browning and caramelization.

THE USE OF DIC TECHNOLOGY (INSTANT CONTROLLED PRESSURE DROP) IN FRUIT DESHYDRATATION

Over time, many methods of preserving fruit by drying/dehydration applied at the industrial level (convection, microwave, high frequency currents, infrared radiation, lyophilisation, etc.) have been discovered and perfected to improve the quality of dehydrated products as well as their resistance to storage. The application of many of them is quite expensive, the parameters of the drying process (processing time and energy consumption) having high values. Technological progress in this field involves the development of new dehydration techniques, optimizing existing ones or combining them, aiming to increase energy efficiency, obtain healthy products with high rehydration capacity, reduce costs and negative impact on the environment. The paper presents a brief summary of the basic principles of the DIC (Instant Controlled Pressure Drop) process, as well as the advantages of its uses in industrial fruit dehydration technologies or as pre-treatment.