The objective of this research was to investigate the stability of chlorophyll in yerba maté leaves in controlled atmospheres of CO2/air mixtures and different water activities at 25°C.Two levels of water activity were selected corresponding to saturated salt solutions of LiCl (a w=0.113) and MgCl2(a w=0.330) and three levels of CO2/air mixtures (0/100,20/80 and 40/60). The chlorophyll content was evaluated using a liquid chromatography HPLC technique. Experimental values varied between 2.16 and 0.61 mg/g of dry matter. For each sample, 5 determination were made during 58 days. Experimental values were fitted to an equation describing a first order reaction. In all cases, the agreement was good with P<3 10-3. The initial concentration of chlorophyll dropped, in average, to 30.5% after 58 days. However, after comparing the velocity constants, no differences were found between them.
yerba maté; chlorophyll stability; controlled atmosphere
