Secagem da polpa de cumbeba.

Abstract

Estimates indicate that the number of cactus species known in Brazil corresponds to approximately 13% of the world biota. A part of this diversity is in the northeastern semi-arid region called Caatinga. However, these species are little explored, especially in relation to the use of fruits, such as cumbeba. The present study has formulated three different foams with cumbeba pulp [Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor and Stuppy] just varying the concentration of Emustab® (3, 2.5 and 2%) and Neutral® (2, 1.5 and 1%) based on the beat time (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes). The formulated foam (F2) with cumbeba pulp and with addition of 2.5% of Emustab® and 1.5% of Neutral Alloy and time of 15 minutes was the one that obtained better stability and volumetric expansion (over-run) and lower density, then it was submitted to drying in a foam layer at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 ºC and layer thicknesses of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 cm, and in the lyophilizer (layer thickness of 1, 5 cm) to obtain powdered products. Midilli model was the best that fit for the kinetics of foam layer drying. The drying time, the effective diffusivity and the activation energy increased with the increase of the drying temperature and with the increase of the thickness of the foam layer. The total cumbeba pulp, selected foam (F2) and powders from the foam-layer drying and freeze-drying method were evaluated for chemical, physical and physicochemical parameters. The reduction of the water content and the pH, the increase of the bioactive compounds, the acidity and the ascorbic acid content were observed with the increase of the drying temperature. The cumbeba foam-dried powder at 70 ° C with 1.5 cm thick was chosen as the best and when compared to lyophilized cumbeba powder, better results were obtained with higher bioactive compounds contents, solubility, wettability, and lower porosity. GAB, Oswin and Peleg models can be used to estimate the water adsorption isotherms of cumbeba powders and they were classified as type II. The best foam-dried cumbeba powder and freeze-dried powder were stored at 30 and 40 ºC, with increasing water content, water activity and flavonoid content over time, and a reduction solubility, ascorbic acid and betaxanthines.