Inativação da pectinametilesterase na pasteurização assistida por micro-ondas de suco de laranja pêra Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck.

Abstract

The enzyme pectin methylesterase (PME) inactivation in orange juice was studied by both conventional and microwave heat treatment in batch conditions. Conventional heat treatment was carried out in a thermostatic bath, maintaining the temperature constant during the process. Different temperatures were tested at the interval between (40 and 95) °C and time between (0 and 60) s. The microwaveassisted heating process took place through two equipments: the first one have used a multi-mode microwave digestor, and the second a chemical and enzymatic synthesis mono-mode microwave reactor. Temperatures have been tested in the range of (40 to 90) °C and retention time between (0 and 60) s. The temperature's history has been acquired in real time for all processes. Physical-chemical characterization of the non-processed juice, pectin methylesterase enzyme activity, acidity and soluble solids content were conducted for both, fresh and treated juice. The results demonstrated that the microwave-assisted pasteurization was more effective than conventional, reaching 90 % inactivation at 60 °C after 10 s and reaching 99 % inactivation when exposed to 80 °C by at least 20 s.