RESUMOGreen onion (Allium fistulosum L.) is widely consumed and traded in Brazil as condiment. Because of the high yields in the region of Volta Redonda -RJ and the alternative of drying as a method for preserving the excess production, the objective of this study was to evaluate the drying process of green onions, considering the microbiological quality, and to develop the mathematical modeling of this process. Mathematical models to describe the drying of agricultural products were used to predict the phenomenon. The modified Page equation gave the best fit to the data. Microbiological quality was evaluated using the analysis of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, molds and yeasts. Dehydration at 60 ºC was the most indicated for green onions, with assured microbiological quality. Cinética de secagem de folhas de cebolinha e avaliação da qualidade microbiológicaA cebolinha (Allium fistulosum L.) possui amplo consumo e comercialização no Brasil como condimento. Devido à

A B S T R A C TParsley is a species of wide production and trade in Brazil due to its high consumption as a condiment, fresh or dried. In the development of equipment used for drying, it is important to simulate and obtain theoretical information about the behavior of water loss for each product. Given the increasing use and potential commercialization of condimental plants, the objective of this work was to determine the isosteric heat of parsley leaves and fit mathematical models to the experimental data obtained in drying and desorption processes. The modified GAB and Midilli models were the most appropriate to describe the desorption isotherms and drying curves, respectively, for the studied temperatures. The isosteric heat varied from 3394.6 to 2830.0 kJ kg -1 for the equilibrium moisture content in the range from 0.0154 to 3.7232 (d.b.). Pós-colheita de folhas de salsinha (Petroselinum crispum):Modelagem matemática dos processos de secagem e dessorção R E S U M O A salsinha é uma espécie de ampla produção e comércio no Brasil devido ao seu alto consumo como condimento in natura ou seco. No desenvolvimento de equipamentos para secagem é importante a simulação e a obtenção de informações teóricas a respeito do comportamento de cada produto durante a remoção de água. Tendo em vista a crescente utilização e o potencial de comercialização de plantas condimentares, neste trabalho objetivou-se determinar o calor isostérico das folhas de salsinha e ajustar modelos matemáticos aos dados experimentais da secagem e da dessorção. O modelo de GAB modificado e de Midilli foram os mais adequados para descrever as isotermas de dessorção e as curvas de secagem, respectivamente, para as temperaturas estudadas. O calor isostérico variou de 3394,6 a 2830,0 kJ kg -1 para o teor de água de equilíbrio na faixa de 0,0154 a 3,7232 (b.s.). Key words:spice plant processing isosteric heat Palavras-chave: planta condimentar processamento calor isostérico

Tomato pomace is rich in carotenoids (mainly lycopene), which are related to important bioactive properties. In general, carotenoids are known to react easily under environmental conditions, which may create a barrier in producing stable functional components for food. This work intended to evaluate the storage stability and in vitro release of lycopene from encapsulated tomato pomace extract, and its bioaccessibility when encapsulates were incorporated in yogurt. Microencapsulation assays were carried out with tomato pomace extract as the core material and arabic gum or inulin (10 and 20 wt%) as wall materials by spray drying (160 and 200 °C). The storage stability results indicate that lycopene degradation was highly influenced by the presence of oxygen and light, even when encapsulated. In vitro release studies revealed that 63% of encapsulated lycopene was released from the arabic gum particles in simulated gastric fluid, whereas for the inulin particles, the release was only around 13%. The feed composition with 20% inulin showed the best protective ability and the one that enabled releasing the bioactives preferentially in the intestine. The bioaccessibility of the microencapsulated lycopene added to yogurt increased during simulated gastrointestinal digestion as compared to the microencapsulated lycopene alone. We anticipate a high potential for the inulin microparticles containing lycopene to be used in functional food formulations.

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