Comportamento reológico e propriedades termofísicas da polpa do fruto do mandacaru.

Abstract

In order to make better use of mandacaru fruit grown in the semiarid Northeast of Brazil for pulp and fruit production, this study sought to determine the main thermophysical properties, density, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, in addition to rheological behavior of whole and concentrated mandacaru fruit pulp up to a content of 35 and 56 °Brix. Density was determined by the pycnometric method; the Dickerson infinite cylinder method was used for thermal diffusivity; the heat capacity value was obtained by the method of mixtures and thermal conductivity by the indirect method. Equations proposed in the literature were also applied to estimate thermophysical properties. Rheological data were determined using a Brookfield viscometer and Casson, Ostwald-de-Waelle and Herschel-Bulkley models, fit to experimental data, with the last model exhibiting best fit. Pulps with a concentration of 12 °Brix showed dilatant non- Newtonian behavior; however, those with concentrations of 35 and 56 °Brix displayed pseudoplastic non-Newtonian behavior. Viscosity was influenced by concentration and temperature. Mandacaru whole fruit pulp, predominantly yellow, was considered acidic, with low mineral content, high moisture content and water activity. Thermophysical properties were in the expected range for fruit pulp. Density increased with a rise in soluble solid content, while heat capacity and thermal diffusivity decreased with increased concentrations. Of the equations used to estimate density, heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity, only those related to density are adequate for ali samples, with an error of less than 20%.