Innovation in the drying process during the roasting of cashew nut almonds has the potential to significantly improve product quality. This study aimed to investigate the drying kinetics of the almond, comparing the experimental data with the mathematical models of Fick, Page, Cavalcanti Mata, and Henderson and Pabis. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Physical Measurements and Drying of the Academic Unit of Food Engineering at the Federal University of Campina Grande. For drying, equipment with high air velocity and precise temperature control was used, operating at 120, 140, 160, and 180 °C, with an air velocity of 3 m s⁻¹. Based on the drying kinetics parameters, the activation energy for each mathematical model was determined, which indicates the energy required to break the bonds that maintain water in the product. The thermodynamic properties of the process were also determined, which are essential to help understand the drying behavior of the fruit, optimize energy efficiency and the quality of the final product. The Fick model, using six terms in the series and considering the cylindrical shape of the almond, along with the other models analyzed, showed a good fit for the experimental data, as evidenced by the R² values obtained. For the Fick model, the R² values varied between 0.9675 and 0.9738, for the Page model, between 0.9809 and 0.9954, for the Cavalcanti Mata model, between 0.9921 and 0.9973 and for the Henderson and Pabis model, between 0.9906 and 0.9976, for the temperatures studied.

This study presents the development and characterization of a novel buffalo Petit Suisse cheese, enhanced with symbiotic properties through an innovative whey retention method and incorporating inulin and xanthan gum. The research focused on assessing the cheese’s physicochemical properties, shelf life, lactic acid bacteria viability, syneresis behavior, and the impact of varying concentrations of functional ingredients. The addition of inulin and xanthan gum, following a design of experiments, significantly influenced the cheese’s texture and consistency. Higher inulin concentrations were associated with increased fermentation activity, as indicated by total titratable acidity, which showed an increase from 1.22% to 1.50% over a 28-day period, and pH levels that decreased from 3.33 to 2.96. The syneresis index varied across trials, with the highest reduction observed in trials with increased xanthan gum concentrations, effectively reducing syneresis to 0%. Lactic acid bacteria viability also showed notable variations, with the highest cell survival percentage reaching 107.89% in formulations with higher inulin and xanthan gum concentrations. These results underscore the importance of inulin and xanthan gum in enhancing the cheese’s microbial stability and textural quality. The study concludes that the strategic use of inulin and xanthan gum improves the nutritional profile of buffalo Petit Suisse cheese and optimizes its textural and sensory attributes.

A indústria de processamento de frutas gera um grande volume de resíduos sólidos, que muitas vezes, são descartados de maneira inadequada. Desse modo, a utilização destes resíduos para a produção de farinhas, proporciona a redução de um problema ambiental, possibilita a redução de custos e a melhoria no valor nutricional dos produtos. Diante deste cenário, objetivou-se utilizar farinhas obtidas através da desidratação de resíduos agroindustriais de abacaxi e caju como matéria-prima no processo produtivo de barras de cereais, proporcionando o desenvolvimento de um alimento com elevado valor nutricional. As amostras foram caracterizadas através dos seguintes parâmetros físico-químicos: teor de umidade, atividade de água, pH, acidez, proteínas, lipídeos e cinzas. Verificou-se que, a utilização da farinha dos resíduos é uma alternativa viável para o aproveitamento deste material e, observou-se a influência do percentual de farinha utilizado em todos os parâmetros avaliados. Foi observado também o aumento no teor de umidade, atividade de água, proteínas, cinzas e acidez, e a redução do pH e teor lipídico.

The mesquite tree (Prosopis juliflora) is cultivated across 500,000 hectares in the semi-arid region of Brazil, primarily aimed at recovering degraded areas in the northeastern part of the country, which represents 15.7% of the national territory. However, its economic potential remains underutilized. Mesquite pods are particularly rich in carbohydrates, making them a promising raw material for bioethanol production. This study investigates the production of first-generation bioethanol from mesquite pods as feedstock. Mature pods were sourced from local producers in Sumé Town, located in the Cariri Paraibano microregion of Brazil. Sugar extraction from the mesquite pods involved hydration followed by pressing, with the extracted juice adjusted to a pH of 4.3 and soluble solids (°Brix) concentrations corrected to 20, 18, and 16. The juice was then subjected to fermentation using different yeast strains (fresh yeast, granular yeast, and FLNF CA-11) at a concentration of 25 g L⁻¹. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in a batch system, with measurements of cell concentration (biomass), soluble solids (°Brix), ethanol concentration (°GL), and pH taken at 2 h intervals over a 20 h period. The best physicochemical characterization of bioethanol was obtained using the LNF CA-11 yeast at 20 °Brix, producing a biofuel that met Brazilian legal standards set by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP). The bioethanol had a colorless appearance and was free of impurities, with a titratable acidity of 28.2 mg of acetic acid, electrical conductivity of 282.33 µS m⁻¹, a specific mass of 809 kg m⁻³, an alcohol content of 95.5 °GL, a pH of 6.28, and no evaporation residue in 100 mL. Additionally, the highest bioethanol yield was achieved with broth fermented at 18 °Brix and LNF CA-11 yeast. These results highlight the potential of mesquite pods as a renewable energy alternative, especially relevant in the context of the global climate crisis; the growing need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; and the need to reduce environmental problems; and they promote the added-value and use of this product.

The aim of this study was to investigate the thin layer drying of brown rice grains at different temperatures (35-75 °C), exploring its kinetics and thermodynamic properties. Black rice grains (30% b.u.) were subjected to convective drying, and the experimental data were subjected to analysis of theoretical, semi-theoretical and empirical drying models, and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. Increasing temperature accelerated drying, shortening the time required to reach moisture balance. The modified Page model modified by Cavalcanti-Mata showed excellent fit to the experimental data, standing out for its simplicity and effectiveness in describing the relationship between water content and drying time. The analysis of thermodynamic properties revealed that the activation energy increased with temperature, evidencing its influence on moisture removal. The observed variations in thermodynamic properties reinforce the importance of considering energy factors in drying. The results offer insights to optimize the black rice grain drying process, contributing to advances in the food industry and providing a basis for future research in the processing of agricultural products.

A secagem é uma forma de minimizar perdas, possibilitando o transporte, o armazenamento e aumentando a vida útil do produto. Portanto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar a secagem convectiva estudando o ajuste de curvas da secagem para sementes de abóbora em diferentes temperaturas. A secagem foi realizada em estufa de circulação de ar com velocidade de 1,5 m.s-1, nas temperaturas de 60 e 80 °C; e os modelos empíricos (Page, Lewis e Wing& Singh), foram ajustados aos dados experimentais. Dentro os modelos empíricos aplicados o de Lewis e Page, apresentaram bons parâmetros estatísticos, no entanto, o modelo de Lewis foi considerado o de melhor ajuste devido a simplicidade de sua equação. Contudo, a secagem e uma técnica eficiente na conservação das sementes de abóbora, pois reduzem o teor de água aumentando a vida útil das mesmas.