Algoritmos de otimização e modelos analíticos para a descrição da desidratação de melão cortado em forma de cubo.

Abstract

The present study makes an assessment of the diffusive process used in osmotic dehydration of melon sliced into cubes following kiln-drying based on mathematical modeling, considering the physicochemical and sensory properties of the product. The kinetic features of both osmotic dehydration and kiln-drying are described by means of two mathematical models using the analytical solution of the diffusion equation in conjunction with Cartesian coordinates of the first and third kind boundary conditions. In the present work, optimization algorithms have been correlated to analytical solutions. These algorithms were written in FORTRAN based on the optimum removal of experimental points so as to determine the thermophysical parameters with the purpose of describingthe melon solid absorption kinetics and moisture removal.Comparative tests have been conducted between the optimizers implemented for the present study. These were based on the results obtained by other software which also uses contour conditions of the first type (Prescribed) and the third type (Convective). As a result, it waspossible to analyze the efficiency of the proposed optimizers to determine the optimal values along mass transfer processes. In addition, the dehydrated melon cubes were submitted to physicochemical evaluation, considering water activity, acidity, pH, sugars, ash, color and firmness. They were also submitted to sensory evaluati on as determined bythe acceptance tests and purchase intention.The data were obtained via experiments conducted on the osmotic dehydration of melons (cut into pieces of 10 mm) using osmodesidratant solutions with total soluble solid contents of 25, 45 and 65 ºBrix. The drying was done in an oven at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 ºC. Results demonstrated that the proposed optimizers can provide the necessary parameters for the study proposed in the present work. It has been verified, considering the values obtained for the convective transfer coefficient, Biot number and for the statistical indicators that the most adequate contour condition to describe the process governing mass transfer is that of the third kind condition. The sensorial analysis has also revealed that the sample with the greater acceptance by the testers was the one that underwe nt osmotic dehydration ata 65 ºBrix concentration and subsequent drying at a temperature of 50 ºC, considering as well that higher concentrations of sucrose and drying temperatures favored better water removal. However, the samples submitted to higher complementary temperatures displayed greater enzymatic browning. All samples have exhibited, after oven drying, water activities within values considered microbiologically safer.