Abstract The main objectives of this work were to study the effect of fruit ripening on the melon osmotic dehydration at reduced pressure and to model the mass transfer of moisture during melon dehydration with grape juice concentrate and sucrose solution. The ripening level had no relevant effect over the physical characteristics of the final product, with soluble solids, moisture and water activity without significant differences. Besides, the mass loss and solute gain parameters did not show significant differences, and only the solute gain had few variations. The process of the osmotic dehydration with grape juice concentrate was the most effective one, with higher dehydration and lowest solutes gain compared to the process carried out with sucrose solution. The water effective diffusivity calculated by the Fick’s equation for the process conduced with grape juice was lower than the one obtained for the sucrose solution, according to different equilibrium moisture content calculated by Peleg’s equation. The dehydrated melon with grape juice concentrate showed reduced water activity (~ 0.92) and low moisture content (~ 58%).

Mimetizar estruturas biológicas como a parede celular dos tecidos vegetais pode ser uma alternativa para obter filmes biodegradáveis com propriedades mecânicas e de barreira ao vapor de água melhoradas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as propriedades mecânicas e de permeabilidade ao vapor de água (PVA) de filmes produzidos pelo método de evaporação do solvente (casting) a partir de misturas de metilcelulose, glucomanana, pectina e gelatina. Inicialmente, foram produzidos filmes a partir dos polissacarídeos em pH 4. O filme com melhor desempenho mecânico (tensão na ruptura = 72,64 MPa; elongação = 9,85%) foi obtido a partir de metilcelulose-glucomanana-pectina na proporção 1:4:1, respectivamente. Posteriormente, adicionou-se gelatina a esta mistura de polissacarídeos, e o pH foi ajustado para 4, 5 e 6. Os resultados mostraram melhoras significativas na PVA quando os filmes foram produzidos em pH 5 e com as proporções polissacarídeos/gelatina de 90/10 e 10/90, atingindo-se valores de 0,094 e 0,118 g.mm/h.m².kPa, respectivamente. Filmes com melhores propriedades mecânicas foram obtidos a partir da mistura dos polissacarídeos, enquanto que a PVA foi melhorada a partir da mistura dos polissacarídeos com a gelatina em pH 5.

Mimic biological structures such as the cell wall of plant tissues may be an alternative to obtain biodegradable films with improved mechanical and water vapor barrier properties. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP) of films produced by using the solvent-casting technique from blended methylcellulose, glucomannan, pectin and gelatin. First, films from polysaccharides at pH 4 were produced. The film with the best mechanical performance (tensile strength = 72.63 MPa; elongation = 9.85%) was obtained from methylcellulose-glucomannan-pectin at ratio 1:4:1, respectively. Then, gelatin was added to this polysaccharide blend and the pH was adjusted to 4, 5 and 6. Results showed significant improvement in WVP when films were made at pH 5 and at polysaccharides/gelatin ratio of 90/10 and 10/90, reaching 0.094 and 0.118 g.mm/h.m².kPa as values, respectively. Films with the best mechanical properties were obtained from the blend of polysaccharides, whereas WVP was improved from the blend of polysaccharides and gelatin at pH 5.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi produzir e caracterizar partículas lipídicas (MpLs) que possam ser utilizadas como carreadores de altas quantidades de um recheio hidrofílico e avaliar a influência da quantidade de recheio sobre a performance das micropartículas. As MpLs foram produzidas por spray cooling a partir de misturas de ácidos graxos líquidos e sólidos (ácido esteárico e oléico) e gordura vegetal hidrogenada, contendo solução de glucose como recheio e lecitina de soja como surfactante. A performance das MpLs foi avaliada por meio da quantificação do recheio efetivamente encapsulado, da quantidade presente na superfície das MpLs e do perfil de liberação do recheio em meio aquoso. Observações morfológicas mostraram que as MpLs apresentaram forma esférica e superfície enrugada porém contínua, com um tamanho médio entre 25 e 32 µm. A quantidade efetivamente encapsulada foi superior a 78% para todas as formulações avaliadas. Maior quantidade de glucose superficial foi observada nas formulações em que soluções mais concentradas de glucose foram utilizadas, independente da relação lipídio-solução. Os resultados da liberação mostraram que a retenção do recheio foi significativamente influenciada pela concentração de glucose utilizada, enquanto a modulação da liberação foi influenciada pela relação lipídio:solução de glucose.

The objective of this research was to produce and characterize lipid particles (MpLs) that may be used as carriers of high amounts of hydrophilic core and evaluate the influence of the core amount on the performance of lipid microparticles. The MpLs were produced by spray cooling from solid and liquid lipid mixtures (stearic and oleic fatty acids and partly hydrogenated vegetable fat) containing glucose solution as core and soy lecithin as surfactant. The performance of MpLs was evaluated by means of the effective amount of encapsulated core, the core amount present on the surface of MpLs (superficial glucose) and the core release profile in aqueous solution. Morphological observations showed that MpLs presented spherical shape and a rugged and continuous surface, and an average diameter between 25 and 32 µm. The effective amount of encapsulated core was greater than 78% for all formulations evaluated. Larger amounts of superficial glucose were found in formulations in which more concentrated glucose solutions were used, regardless of the glucose lipid-solution ratio. The release results showed that core retention was significantly influenced by the glucose solution concentration, whereas release modulation was influenced by the glucose lipid-solution ratio.