Processamento do fruto do juazeiro para obtenção da farinha e do óleo.

Abstract

In the brazilian semi-arid climate the vegetal species from the Caatinga are diversely employed. Among them, the fruit of the juazeiro (Zizyphus joazeiro Mart.), wideley used by local population, but little known scientifically about their alimentary potential. Being a seasonal fruit and its production is almost entirely wasted, studies of technological methods of conservation and nutritional characterization could help to add value and deliver on a regional food supply. Thus, the aim of this work was the processing and characterization of juazeiro fruit to obtain flour (peel and pulp) and oil (seeds). The characterization of raw fruits is the chemical composition, energy and water activity. The flour was obtained by convective drying of fruits, stablishing the drying curves in the temperatures (50, 60 and 70 ºC) and the air speeds (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m/s). In the flours resulting from the kinetic it was determined the centesimal composition, and one that has moisture content within the specified by law for flour (15%), physicochemical analysis were performed, such as aminoacid and mineral composition ones. The oil extracted from the seeds, it was stablished the fatty acids profile and its calculated the indexes of nutritional quality, (HH, IA e IT). According to the kinetic drying data analysis, the Page model satisfactorily fitted the experimental data, the drying occurred in the falling rate period, finding that the temperature had the greatest influence. The flour that has a lower moisture content (12,40%) was dried at a temperature of 70 ºC and 2,0 m/s air speed. The results of the characterization of the flour showed the nutritional potential of the fruit. The total sugar content of 41.55% and energy value of 340.13 Kcal / 100 g. The amino acid profile presented all the essential amino acids, especially the tryptophan, above the reference standard stablished by FAO/adults (18 mg/100 g protein). The minerals potassium is highlighted (1118 mg / 100g), calcium (356 mg / 100 g), magnesium (114 mg / 100 g) and iron (3 mg / 100 g). In profile oil fatty acids, it was observed a bigger amount of unsaturated fatty acids (64,51%) compared to the saturated ones (34,41%). The prevailing fatty acid in the profile was the monounsaturated omega-9 (37,31%), the palmitic (16,80%), the omega-3 (15,63%), stearic (11,80%) and omega-6 (10,20%).