Food powder liquid extracts obtained from fruits and vegetables can be manufactured using spray drying technologies while maintaining the quality attributes that are required by the industrial sector. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maltodextrin and spray drying process conditions on sugarcane juice powder. A central composite design was used with a response surface analysis of four factors: (A) maltodextrin (10-20%), (B) inlet air temperature (130-150 °C), (C) outlet air temperature (75-85 °C) and (D) atomization speed (22,000-26,000 rpm). Moisture, hygroscopicity, solubility, effective recovery and formation of deposits on the walls presented significant differences (P<0.05) with respect to all factors, while, for water activity, no statistical differences were observed. The optimization of the factors found for the drying operating conditions were: (A) 20%, (B) 130 °C, (C) 75 °C and (D) 22,000 rpm, respectively.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mechanical drying on the sensory quality of specialty coffee produced on three Colombian coffee farms. The technique involved a study of the coffee bean drying process parameters, such as temperature (35, 45 and 55 ℃), airflow (100 m³/min∙m²) and thickness (0.2 m) for mechanical drying, vs conventional drying in the open sun until 11% of moisture content was reached. For mechanical drying, the effective diffusion coefficient, electrical conductivity and drying kinetics were evaluated. A sensory test was performed for three storage periods (3, 6 and 9 months) using the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol. The results showed that the effective diffusion coefficient varied from 3.21 to 8.02 × 10⁻⁷ m²/s for mechanical drying and from 4.21 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s for drying in the open sun. The time drying time was established at 20.35 ± 0.06, 29.10 ± 0.09 and 71.52 ± 0.11 hours for mechanical drying at 55 ℃, 45 ℃ and 35 ℃ respectively and 54.48 ± 11.37 hours for drying in the open sun system. The average moisture content at the end of all drying operations was 12.5%. Electrical conductivity rose from 11.71 to 16.86 µS/cm∙g at drying temperatures ranging from 35 to 55 ℃. The sensory test revealed that storage duration had no effect on the quality of the coffee drink when in touch with the drying process, with mechanical drying yielding higher sensory ratings. The coffee beans were dried at 55 ℃, yielding coffee samples with SCA scores more than 85 points. In overall, it is determined that the convective mechanical drying method is a viable approach for the processing of specialty coffee beans since it allows for the retention of high-quality sensory qualities, allowing it to command higher market pricing.

Background: Sugarcane is one of the world’s largest crop. It grows in the tropical and subtropical regions, and its harvest provides 80% of the world’s sugar. In Latin America unrefined cane sugar is widely available and much less expensive than refined sugar. Sugarcane is a crop of great interest in Colombia due to the economic impact on the rural population and its application as sweetener agent. The poder of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is widely used as a raw material in a wide range of industries such as foods, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical. Objectives: The aim of the research work was the evaluation of the adsorption thermodynamics of sugarcane powder obtained by spray drying technology. Methods: The adsorption isotherms of sugarcane powder were evaluated at temperatures of 4 ± 0.1, 20 ± 0.2 and 30 ± 0.3 °C and its thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs free energy (G), differential heat of adsorption (ΔH) and differential entropy (ΔS) were calculated as a function of moisture content. Experimental data of adsorption isotherms were fitted to the GAB (Guggenheim – Andersen - de Boer), BET (Brunauer – Emmett - Teller), Henderson, Caurie, Smith, Hasley, Peleg, and Oswin models. Results: The results showed a type-II sigmoidal behavior, with temperature having a statistically significant effect. The GAB equation showed a better fit to the experimental data modeling (0.11≤aw≤0.87) although all models showed validity and goodness of fit to the experimental data. The net isosteric heat increased to a maximum value (57 kJ mol-1) and then decreased with the increase in moisture content. Conclusions: The sugarcane powder with maltodextrin, obtained by spray drying got low adsorption thermodynamic stability, as it required very low energy to occur this phenomenon, being obtained the maximum net isosteric heat when moisture content of 4.7% (d.b). This value is within the range of the monolayer moisture content found in the GAB and BET models.

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a tuber with a high content of active compounds that offer health benefits, so its productive chain seeks new alternatives to generate yacon products with added value; however, it tends to be a perishable product due to its high aw, chemical composition, and enzymatic activity. The influence of both composition and homogenization in the colloidal stability of yacon suspensions was evaluated for later use in spray drying. Response surface methodology and a central composite design were used, considering three independent variables: homogenization time (TH) (4-6 min), xanthan gum (XG) (0.1-0.2%), and acidity (0.1-0.3%); and the following dependent variables: zeta potential (ζ), color (CIELab), viscosity (μ), stability index by spectral absorption (R), and particle size (D10, D50, and D90). The values of the independent variables that best fit the experimental optimization criteria were: XG=0.16%, acid=0.3%, and TH=4.8 min. The values of the experimental dependent variables and the variables predicted by the quadratic model were ζ=-33.8±4.0 and -37.6 mV, µ=1143.0±93.4 and 1000 cP, R=0.45±0.1 and 0.48, D10=127.8±8.2 and 138.1 µm, D50=251.2±16.3 and 267.7 µm, D90=424.3±28.7 mm and 463.9 µm, L*=41.7±1.4 and 41.8, a*=0.02±0.85 and 1.6, and b*=15.0±1.3 and 14.8, respectively. The colloidal suspension showed adequate physicochemical stability, favored mainly by repulsive forces, homogenization, and rheology of the continuous phase; reaching a content of total solids of 12.5%.