Krzysztof Lech

Effects of Drying Methods on the Composition of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) Essential Oil

The influence of drying method on aroma compounds of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) was evaluated. The drying methods tested were convective drying, vacuum–microwave drying, and freeze drying, as well as a combination of convective predrying and VM finish drying. Thymes convective drying kinetics are described by a two-term exponential model, and VM drying kinetics consisted of two periods: a constant rate period until a critical moisture ratio (values of 0.311, 0.242, and 0.162 kg kg−1 for 240, 360, and 480 W, respectively) was obtained and a falling rate period beyond that point. Volatile compounds of thyme samples were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography. Thirty-three compounds were tentatively identified; thymol, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, caryophyllene, and α-terpinene were the major components. The total quantity of volatiles of fresh thyme (1,167 mg 100 g−1 db) was reduced by most of the drying treatments, with the exception of VM at 240 and 360 W. The combined method with 40°C and 240 W was the best option for drying thyme; the time required was relatively short (≈ 301 min) and aroma quality was good according to instrumental data (total concentration of volatiles 1,127 mg 100 g−1 db) and sensory evaluation results (high scores for fresh thyme and vegetable odors).

Physicochemical properties of whole fruit plum powders obtained using different drying technologies

Physicochemical quality parameters of plum powders obtained by applying conventional drying methods and their combination devised to process plums were evaluated. The effect of freeze-drying (FD), vacuum drying (VD), convective drying (CD), microwave-vacuum drying (MVD) and combination of convective pre-drying and microwave finish-drying (CPD-MVFD) affected physical (bulk density, porosity, colour, solubility) and chemical (polyphenolic compounds determined by UPLC and antioxidant capacity by TEAC ABTS and FRAP methods) properties of plum powders. The MVD at 1.2 W g(-1) and a novel combination for plum powders production - CPD-MVFD at 70 °C/1.2 W g(-1) allowed the best preservation of phenolic compounds and increased the efficiency of production. Results obtained support the use of MVD and its combination for better quality of dried plum products. The study proved that the determination of the browning index and HMF level (formed via Maillard reaction) might be good tool for monitoring the thermal processing of plum powders.

Volatile composition and sensory profile of Cantharellus cibarius Fr. as affected by drying method

BACKGROUND In this work, the influence of different drying methods on the aroma composition and sensory quality of chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus cibarius Fr.) was evaluated. The drying methods tested were convective drying (CD), freeze drying (FD), vacuum microwave drying (VMD) and a combination of convective pre-drying and vacuum microwave finish drying (CPD-VMFD). RESULTS Analyses of fresh and dried chanterelle samples by HS-SPME and GC/MS and GC-FID showed the presence of 39 volatile compounds at different concentrations. The most abundant compounds in fresh chanterelle were 1-hexanol (33.4 μg per 100 g dry basis (db)), 1-octen-3-ol (80.2 μg per 100 g db) and 2-octen-1-ol (19.3 μg per 100 g db). The results showed that fresh and dried chanterelle contained very low levels of aroma compounds; however, the highest contents of volatile compounds were found in samples after (i) CD at 80 °C (129 μg per 100 g db), (ii) CPD-VMFD at 70 °C-480/240 W (136 μg per 100 g db) and (iii) CPD-VMFD at 80 °C-480/240 W (136 μg per 100 g db). CONCLUSION The best dehydration methods, which resulted in high contents of volatile compounds and appropriate sensory quality, according to descriptive sensory analysis and PCA tools, were CD at 70 and 80 °C. Besides, these methods led to spongy dried mushrooms with high intensities of fresh, mushroom ID, with proper color and without intense shrinkage.

Volatile composition and sensory profile of shiitake mushrooms as affected by drying method

BACKGROUND One of the best preservation method for long-term storage is drying. In this work, the influence of different drying methods on aroma and sensory profile of shiitake mushroom was evaluated. The drying methods tested were: convective drying (CD), freeze-drying (FD), vacuum-microwave drying (VMD), and a combination of convective pre-drying and vacuum-microwave finish-drying (CPD-VMFD). RESULTS The volatile composition of fresh and dried shiitake mushrooms was analysed by SPME, GC-MS and GC-FID, and showed the presence of 71 volatile compounds, most of them present in all dried samples but with quantitative variation. The major volatile compounds in fresh shiitake were 1-octen-3-ol (20.2%), 2-octanone (20.7%), 1,2,4-trithiolane (9.8%), and 1,2,3,5,6-pentathiepane (8.2%). Drying of shiitake mushrooms caused significant losses of C8 compounds and cyclic sulfur compounds, such as 1,2,4-trithiolane (V31) and 1,2,4,5-tetrathiane (V57). Samples dried at CD 80 °C implied a relative short drying time (120 min), had the highest contents of total volatiles (1594 μg 100 g-1 ) and cyclic sulfur compounds (e.g. V57 126 μg 100 g-1 ), and the highest intensity of most of the key positive sensory attributes, such as inner colour (7.0), fresh shiitake flavour (6.7), and sponginess (6.2). CONCLUSION The best dehydration methods, resulting in the highest total concentrations of volatile compounds and high intensity of key sensory attributes were FD (if vacuum and liquid nitrogen facilities are available) and CD at 80 °C (for companies with vacuum and liquid nitrogen facilities).

Volatile Composition and Sensory Profile of Oyster Mushroom as Affected by Drying Method

ABSTRACT The smell of food is one of the most important factors in assessing its quality. In this study, the influence of drying method on aroma/volatile compounds of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq.) was evaluated. The drying methods tested were convective drying (CD), freeze-drying (FD), vacuum microwave drying (VMD), and a combination of convective predrying and VM finish drying (CPD–VMFD). The volatile compounds were extracted by solid-phase microextraction and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The best fitting model to describe the drying kinetics of the oyster mushroom was Henderson and Pabis model. Thirty-four volatiles in fresh oyster mushrooms were identified, with 3-octanone (2,890 µg/100 g dry basis) and 3-octanol (991 µg/100 g) being the major components. The total concentration of volatiles of fresh mushroom (4,506 µg/100 g) was drastically reduced by all drying treatments, although the highest contents were found after: (i) CPD (50°C)–VMFD (480 W) (245 µg/100 g) and (ii) VMD at 480 W (143 µg/100 g). According to the sensory data, the products dried using the treatment CPD (50°C)–VMFD (480 W) were those closer to the fresh mushrooms.

Kinetics, biocompounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of quinces as affected by drying method

Quinces are attracting interest due to their health and nutritional benefits. Drying kinetics, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and the main sensory parameters were determined in dried quinces, cultivar Leskovač, as affected by the drying method. The highest total polyphenols content was observed in dried samples obtained after freeze drying and convective drying at 50 °C. The best drying treatment, considering only sensory attributes, was vacuum-microwave drying at 480 W, because it led to intermediate dark color and high intensities of basic tastes and key flavor attributes. The studied parameters were finally used to recommend convective drying at 60 °C as the most appropriate drying method for quinces, because it had a high content of total phenolic compounds (2nd best treatment out of 10), a good sensory profile, was cheap, and caused no negative effects on nutritional or sensory parameters; the only disadvantage was its long drying time.

The Influence of the Osmotic Dehydration Process on Physicochemical Properties of Osmotic Solution

The osmotic dehydration (OD) process consists of the removal of water from a material during which the solids from the osmotic solution are transported to the material by osmosis. This process is commonly performed in sucrose and salt solutions. Taking into account that a relatively high consumption of those substances might have a negative effect on human health, attempts have been made to search for alternatives that can be used for osmotic dehydration. One of these is an application of chokeberry juice with proven beneficial properties to human health. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the OD solution (chokeberry juice concentrate) before and after the osmotic dehydration of carrot and zucchini. The total polyphenolics content, antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP), dynamic viscosity, density, and water activity were examined in relation to the juice concentration used for the osmotic solution before and after the OD process. During the osmotic dehydration process, the concentration of the chokeberry juice decreased. Compounds with lower molecular weight and lower antioxidant capacity present in concentrated chokeberry juice had a stronger influence on the exchange of compounds during the OD process in carrot and zucchini. The water activity of the osmotic solution increased after the osmotic dehydration process. It was concluded that the osmotic solution after the OD process might be successfully re-used as a product with high quality for i.e. juice production.

The Effect of Selected Fruit Juice Concentrates Used as Osmotic Agents on the Drying Kinetics and Chemical Properties of Vacuum-Microwave Drying of Pumpkin

The study examined the osmotic dehydration of pumpkin slices in chokeberry, flowering quince, and raspberry concentrated juices. Products obtained were subjected to vacuum-microwave finish drying (VMD). The objective of the study was to evaluate the drying kinetics and the chemical properties, that is, total polyphenolics content and antioxidant capacity of the vacuum-microwave-dried pumpkin products. The concentration and temperature of the juices were 40°Brix and 45°C, respectively. The pumpkin slices were pretreated in concentrated juices for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 6 hours. Vacuum-microwave finish drying was carried out at the power of magnetrons that ensured the maintenance of the safe temperature (below 90°C) of the slices measured with the use of infrared camera. The results of the study showed that the moisture content of samples during the pretreatment in concentrated juices was decreasing until the equilibrium stage. The logarithmic model was used to describe the drying kinetics of pumpkin during VMD. Osmotic pretreatment resulted in a decrease in colour coordinates, improved the antioxidant activity of dried product, and prolonged the duration of VMD.

The Influence of Drying Method on Volatile Composition and Sensory Profile of Boletus edulis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different drying methods on aroma and sensory profile of Boletus edulis (cepe). The drying methods tested were convective drying (CD), freeze-drying (FD), vacuum microwave drying (VMD), and a combination of convective predrying and vacuum microwave finish-drying (CPD-VMFD). Fresh and dried cepe volatiles, analyzed by SPME and GC-MS, showed the presence of 53 volatile compounds, most of them present in all dried samples but with quantitative variation. The major volatile compounds in fresh and dried cepe were 1-octen-3-ol (3405 µg 100 g−1·db), 3-octanone (429 µg 100 g−1·db), and hexanal (355 µg 100 g−1·db). The results showed that drying of cepe mushrooms caused major losses of aroma compounds; however, the highest content of volatile compounds and the highest intensity of most of the key positive sensory attributes were found in samples after (i) CD at 80°C (3763 µg 100 g−1·db), (ii) CD at 70°C (3478 µg 100 g−1·db), and (iii) CPD at 60°C and VMFD at 480/240 W (2897 µg 100 g−1·db).

The relation between CRI, CSR indexes, chemical composition and physical parameters of commercial metallurgical cokes

ABSTRACT The paper deals with comprehensive quality and physical parameters of commercial cokes. It aims to present comparative analysis of acquired values with standards found in other literature sources. There were analysed 15 samples of coke from current industrial operation. There were carried out chemical analysis, CSR and CRI characterization. Density, porosity, compressive strength, friction coefficient, volume of particles were determined. There was performed one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by Statistica v.12.0 (StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, USA) to determine significant correlation between the measured parameters. The highest correlation coefficents were noted between the pycnometer density of cokes and CSR index (r = 0.925) and CRI index (r = −0.828). The comparative analysis of quality and physical parameters with values mentioned in literature revealed the significant differences in the values of apparent density, bulk density and true density of pulverized samples.