Efeito da secagem em leito de jorro sobre a extração de fenóis e taninos totais da casca da romã (Punica granatum L.).

Abstract

Fruit production in Brazil is around 33 million tons per year. Pomegranate (Punica granatum, L.) is a native fruit of the Middle East region. Non-native, however, arable on Brazilian soil, the tree grows in arid regions and is widely found in the backlands of Paraiba, the production of the fruit takes place from September to February. The fruit has, in its composition, phenolic compounds highlighting the tannins. Tannins are polyphenolic compounds distributed in plants, foods and beverages with a relatively high molecular weight which are soluble in water with special anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. The pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in the dry plant extracts, since they have better dosing accuracy, ease of handling, transport and storage, as well as favoring the maintenance of chemical, microbiological and pharmacological stability. It is emphasized in this paper the drying process in a spouted bed as a good alternative to the use of pomegranate rind. The spouted bed dryer is easy to install, low cost and simple operation compared to other dryers. This process enables waste pomegranate are subsequently used in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical especially since the phenolic compounds present in pomegranate peel are a source of raw material for the production of herbal medicines. Initially there was the lifting of the characteristic curves and elaborated an experimental design with three replications 22 at the center point and four axial points for drying and subsequent extraction of phenolic compounds. Pomegranate peels in nature crushed were dried in a spouted bed at temperatures of 44, 50, 65, 80 and 86ᵒC and feedstock with varying according to the height of bed 8, 10, 15, 20 and 22 cm, as defined in expermental planning. Was given to work with the further extraction process with water in 30ᵒC temperature and under stirring, extracts passed through reaction with Folin Denis and complexing agent were read in a spectrophotometer at 760nm and 725nm bands for total phenols and tannins respectively. The experimental results allowed investigate the response variables: income total phenols and tannins. The yield of total phenols and tannins ranged from 52 to 82% and 31 to 58% respectively. The experimental design provided statistically significant and predictive models. An optimum condition for drying and subsequent extraction of the active ingredients found: 50ᵒC temperature and bed height 20 cm.