Mathematical Models to Describe the Foam Mat Drying Process of Cumbeba Pulp (Tacinga inamoena) and Product Quality
Adelino de Melo Guimarães Diógenes, Rossana Maria Feitosa de Figueirêdo, Alexandre José de Melo Queiroz, João Paulo de Lima Ferreira, Wilton Pereira da Silva, Josivanda Palmeira Gomes, Francislaine Suélia dos Santos, Deise Souza de Castro, Marcela Nobre Oliveira, Dyego da Costa Santos, Romário Oliveira de Andrade, Ana Raquel Carmo de Lima
Abstract
The present study investigated the mathematical modeling foam-mat drying kinetics of cumbeba pulp and the effect of drying conditions on the color and contents of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds of the powder pulps obtained. Foam-mat drying was carried out in a forced air circulation oven at temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 °C, testing foam-mat thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm. The increase in the water removal rate is a result of the increase in air temperature and the decrease in the thickness of the foam layer. Among the empirical and semi-empirical mathematical models, the Midilli model was the one that best represented the drying curves in all conditions evaluated. Effective water diffusivity ranged from 1.037 × 10−9 to 6.103 × 10−9 m2 s−1, with activation energy of 25.212, 33.397, and 36.609 kJ mol−1 for foam thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm, respectively. Cumbeba powders showed light orangish colors and, as the drying temperature increased from 50 to 70 °C, for all thicknesses, the lightness value (L*) decreased and the values of redness (+a*) and yellowness (+b*) increased. Foam-mat drying at higher temperatures (60 and 70 °C) improved the retention of ascorbic acid and flavonoids, but reduced the content of phenolic compounds, while the increase in thickness, especially for flavonoids and phenolic compounds, caused reduction in their contents. The foam-mat drying method allowed obtaining a good-quality cumbeba pulp powder.