Athermal concentration by osmotic evaporation of roselle extract, apple and grape juices and impact on quality

Fermentation Characteristics, Antinutritional Factor Level and Flavor Compounds of Soybean Whey Yogurt

Soybean whey contains high levels of off-flavors and anti-nutritional factors and is generally considered unsuitable for direct application in the food industry. In this work, to reduce beany off-flavors and anti-nutritional factors, and to improve its fermentation characteristics, soybean whey was treated with electrodialysis desalination, vacuum concentration and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. The results showed that electrodialysis desalination increased the fermentation rate and the number of viable lactic acid bacteria of soybean whey yogurt. More than 90% of the antinutritional factor level (urease and trypsin inhibitory activity) was removed due to high-temperature denaturation inactivation and LAB degradation. Concentrated desalted soybean whey yogurt (CDSWY) possessed larger values for firmness and consistency, and a denser network microstructure compared with undesalted yogurt. Over 90% of off-flavors including hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octen-3-one were removed after electrodialysis desalination and concentration treatment. Meanwhile, the newly generated β-damascenone through carotenoid degradation and 2,3-butanedione improved the pleasant flavor and sensory quality of CDSWY, while the salty taste of CSWY lowered its sensory quality. This study provided a theoretical basis for better utilization of soybean whey to develop a plant-based yogurt like dairy yogurt.

Red Fruit Juice Concentration by Osmotic Distillation: Optimization of Operating Conditions by Response Surface Methodology

Osmotic distillation (OD) was implemented at laboratory scale to concentrate a red fruit juice produced from a blend of blood orange, prickly pear, and pomegranate juice. The raw juice was clarified by microfiltration and then concentrated by using an OD plant equipped with a hollow fiber membrane contactor. The clarified juice was recirculated on the shell side of the membrane module, while calcium chloride dehydrate solutions, used as extraction brine, were recirculated on the lumen side in a counter-current mode. The influence of different process parameters, such as brine concentration (20, 40, and 60% w/w), juice flow rate (0.3, 2.0, and 3.7 L min^-1), and brine flow rate (0.3, 2.0, and 3.7 L min^-1) on the performance of the OD process in terms of evaporation flux and increase in juice concentration, was investigated according to the response surface methodology (RSM). From the regression analysis, the evaporation flux and juice concentration rate were expressed with quadratic equations of juice and brine flow rates, as well as the brine concentration. The desirability function approach was applied to analyse the regression model equations in order to maximize the evaporation flux and juice concentration rate. The optimal operating conditions were found to be 3.32 L min^-1 brine flow rate, 3.32 L min^-1 juice flow rate, and an initial brine concentration of 60% w/w. Under these conditions, the average evaporation flux and the increase in the soluble solid content of the juice resulted in 0.41 kg m^-2 h^-1 and 12.0 °Brix, respectively. Experimental data on evaporation flux and juice concentration, obtained in optimized operating conditions, resulted in good agreement with the predicted values of the regression model.

Effects and impacts of technical processing units on the nutrients and functional components of fruit and vegetable juice

Fruit and vegetable juice (FVJ) has become a favorite beverage for all age groups because of its excellent sensory and nutritional qualities. FVJ has a series of health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer. Except for raw materials selection, processing technology and packaging and storage also play a vital role in the nutrition and functional components of FVJ. This review systematically reviews the important research results on the relationship between FVJ processing and its nutrition and function in the past 10 years. Based on the brief elucidation of the nutrition and health benefits of FVJ and the unit operation involved in the production process, the influence of a series of key technology units, including pretreatment, clarification, homogenization, concentration, sterilization, drying, fermentation and packaging and storage, on the nutritional function of FVJ was systematically expounded. This contribution provides an update on the impacts of technical processing units on the nutrients and functional components of FVJ and new perspectives for future studies.

Production of High-Quality Red Fruit Juices by Athermal Membrane Processes

Membrane-based processes are increasingly used to clarify and concentrate thermo-sensitive fruit juices and plant extracts as alternatives to conventional processes. This work aimed to evaluate the quality of red fruit juices clarified and concentrated by an integrated membrane process with special regard to the preservation of valuable compounds. A red fruit juice obtained from a blend of pomegranate, cactus pear, and red orange juices of Sicilian origin was clarified by microfiltration (MF) and then pre-concentrated up to 33 °Brix by nanofiltration (NF). The pre-concentrated juice was finally concentrated by osmotic distillation (OD) up to 50 and 60 °Brix. Samples of clarified, pre-concentrated, and concentrated juice were analyzed for their physico-chemical composition and in terms of the antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity against α-amylase and lipase. The results clearly confirmed the assumption of a mild fruit juice processing method, allowing us to preserve the original nutritional and functional properties of the fresh juice. In particular, the OD retentate at 60 °Brix resulted the most active sample against pancreatic lipase and α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 44.36 and 214.65 μg/mL, respectively.

Membrane-Based Operations in the Fruit Juice Processing Industry: A Review

The fruit juice industry is one of the food sectors that has invested the most in the implementation of new technologies, such as non-thermal technologies. Among them, membrane processes are considered today well-established separation techniques to support the production and marketing of innovative fruit juices designed to exploit the sensory characteristics and nutritional peculiarities of fresh fruits. Pressure-driven membrane operations, membrane distillation, osmotic distillation and pervaporation have been widely investigated in the last few decades to replace conventional technologies used in fruit juice processing industry (i.e., clarification, stabilization, concentration and recovery of aroma compounds). This paper will review the significant progresses on the use of membrane-based operations in fruit juice processing industry in the light of the growing interest towards products with improved safety, quality and nutritional value and sustainable processes characterized by low energy consumption and low environmental impact.

Characterization of Roselle calyx from different geographical origins

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is considered an underexploited food crop with nutritional and large scale processing potential. Roselle can be utilized as a functional food, mainly due to being rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, other phytochemicals, and natural color. Although Roselle has been widely planted and consumed, little is known about the composition of aroma profiles. In this study, seventeen samples of dried Roselle calyx were collected from eight countries and the aroma profiles were determined by dynamic headspace sampling and GC-MS and GC-olfactometry. Furthermore, total soluble solids, pH, and color L* a* b* were determined, and sugars and acids were measured using ion chromatography. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in all measured variables in physicochemical properties and non-volatile compounds. A total of 135 volatiles were identified mainly terpenes, aldehydes, esters, furans, and ketones. Thirty-seven odorants were reported as potentially important aroma compounds based on GC-olfactometry. This study provides valuable information for future commercial utilization of Roselle in the food industry.

The long-term studies of osmotic membrane distillation

The results of osmotic membrane distillation carried out for 2.5 years were presented in this work. The influence of the process conditions, such as temperature and brine concentration on the permeate flux, was investigated. The saturated NaCl solutions and distilled water were used as a stripping solution and feed, respectively. A continuous regeneration of stripping solution was conducted using a method of natural evaporation from the surface of Białecki rings to the air surrounding the installation. The possibilities of application of Accurel PP S6/2 hydrophobic polypropylene membranes were tested. It was studied whether a saturation stripping solution does not cause scaling and wettability of membranes. It was found that most of the pores in the used membranes were non-wetted, and the salt retention over 99% was maintained during a study period. However, the obtained permeate flux was decreased by 10–20%. The SEM examinations revealed that it was caused by amorphous deposit, which was formed on the membrane surface on the brine side. The SEM–EDS analysis demonstrated that the deposit composition mainly included Si and O.

Concentration of Tea Extracts by Osmotic Evaporation: Optimisation of Process Parameters and Effect on Antioxidant Activity

In this work, the concentration process of three different tea extracts (medicinal Rosil No. 6, Black, and Forest Fruit teas) using the osmotic evaporation (OE) process, was studied. The effect of the OE process on the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity was evaluated. The concentration process was carried out in a hollow-fibre membrane contactor with an effective surface area of 0.54 m². The tea extract was circulated through the shell side of the contactor, while a concentrated osmotic solution (CaCl₂ 5 M) was circulated inside the fibres. The flux, the driving force, and the mass transfer coefficient were evaluated. A decrease of the water flux over time was observed and was attributed only to the decrease of the driving force, caused by the dilution of the osmotic solution. Using a surface area/feed volume ratio of 774 m²·m⁻³, it is possible to reach a tea concentration of 40% (w/w) in 5 h, with a constant water flux and without losing the phenolic content and antioxidant potential in most teas.

Adsorption and Desorption Studies of Anthocyanins from Black Peanut Skins on Macroporous Resins

Adsorption of black peanut skin anthocyanins, a natural pigment, onto various macroporous resins was optimized to develop a potential approach for large-scale production of black peanut skin anthocyanins. Seven different macroporous resins (AB-8, SP-207, LS-305A, HP-20, LS-305, DM-21 and LS-610B) were evaluated for the adsorption properties of the anthocyanins extracted from the black peanut skins of Arachis hypogaea L. The adsorption experiment proved that compared to AB-8, SP-207 and LS-305A, four resins, i.e., LS-610B, DM-21, LS-305 and HP-20 have relatively higher capacity of adsorbing black peanut skin anthocyanins from the aqueous solution, which are verified by the related adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherm data was successfully described by Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order rate model simulates the kinetic process well. Column adsorption and desorption tests further proved DM-21 is a promising adsorbent for field applications to recover black peanut skin anthocyanins from aqueous solution. The overall yield of pigment product was 14% based on dried black peanut skin, and anthocyanins purity is at about 5.7% in the pigment product.

Adsorption and desorption properties of macroporous resins for anthocyanins from the calyx extract of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Adsorption of roselle anthocynins, a natural pigment, onto various macroporous resins was optimized to develop a simple and efficient process for industrial separation and purification of roselle anthocyanins. Nine different macroporous resins (AB-8, X-5, HPD-100, SP-207, XAD-4, LS-305A, DM-21, LS-610B, and LS-305) were evaluated for the adsorption properties of the anthocyanins extracted from the calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. The influences of phase contact time, solution pH, initial anthocyanin concentration, and ethanol concentration with different citric acid amounts were studied by the static adsorption/desorption method. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm, and according to this model, LS-610B and LS-305 exhibited the highest monolayer sorption capacities of 31.95 and 38.16 mg/g, respectively. The kinetic data were modeled using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion equations. The experimental data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Continuous column adsorption-regeneration cycles indicated negligible capacity loss of LS-305 during operation. The overall yield of pigment product was 49.6 mg/g dried calyces. The content of roselle anthocynins in the pigment product was 4.85%.