Evaluation of non-thermal effects of electricity on ascorbic acid and carotenoid degradation in acerola pulp during ohmic heating

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 199; pp. 128 - 134
• Main Authors: Jaeschke, Débora Pez, Marczak, Ligia Damasceno Ferreira, Mercali, Giovana Domeneghini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15-05-2016
• Subjects: Acerola pulp; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - chemistry; Carotenoid; Carotenoids - chemistry; Electricity; Hot Temperature; Malpighiaceae - chemistry; Ohmic heating; Ascorbic acid; Ohmic heating; Acerola pulp; Carotenoid
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.11.117

•Non-thermal effects of electricity on bioactive compounds degradation were studied.•Vitamin C and carotenoid degradation were evaluated under thermal treatments.•The oxygen concentration influence on the degradation rates was studied.•Oxygen is the limiting reagent of the degradation reaction.•Non-thermal effects did not influence ascorbic acid and carotenoid degradation.
The effect of electric field on ascorbic acid and carotenoid degradation in acerola pulp during ohmic heating was evaluated. Ascorbic acid kinetic degradation was evaluated at 80, 85, 90 and 95°C during 60min of thermal treatment by ohmic and conventional heating. Carotenoid degradation was evaluated at 90 and 95°C after 50min of treatment. The different temperatures evaluated showed the same effect on degradation rates. To investigate the influence of oxygen concentration on the degradation process, ohmic heating was also carried out under rich and poor oxygen modified atmospheres at 90°C. Ascorbic acid and carotenoid degradation was higher under a rich oxygen atmosphere, indicating that oxygen is the limiting reagent of the degradation reaction. Ascorbic acid and carotenoid degradation was similar for both heating technologies, demonstrating that the presence of the oscillating electric field did not influence the mechanisms and rates of reactions associated with the degradation process.