Effect of osmotic dehydration pretreatments on drying rate and post-drying quality attributes of red bell pepper(capsicum annuum)

Authors

  • Michael Mayokun Odewole University of Ilorin
  • Adesoji Matthew Olaniyan Federal University Oye-Ekiti

Keywords:

osmotic dehydration, drying rate, quality, red bell pepper (capsicum annuum)

Abstract

Bell pepper (capsicum annuum) is a common vegetable plant and the most popular world-wide and mildest member of capsicum family. It is very easy to cultivate but highly perishable because of its characteristic lower sugar and acidic contents. It lacks built-in protection mechanisms which makes it more vulnerable to deterioration and thus leading to rapid metabolic activities within its cells once harvested. As a result of the aforementioned, it usually experience high postharvest losses in its season and becomes scarce and of low standard at off-season. This work was done to study the factors affecting the drying process of pretreated red bell pepper; and also to investigate the effect of osmotic pretreatments(solution concentration, solution temperature and process duration) on the drying rate and quality attributes (vitamin C, vitamin A and ash content) of red bell pepper. A 43 factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used. The factors taken into consideration were osmotic process duration (60 min-150 min), osmotic solution concentration 5% (w/w)-20% (w/w), and osmotic solution temperature (30°C-60°C), all at four levels and replicated three times. A drying temperature of 60˚C was used for all the pretreated samples inside a temperature-controlled fabricated dryer. Results revealed that not all the osmotic dehydration pretreatments showed significant effect on the drying rate at p≤0.05. Also, increase in osmotic dehydration pretreatment conditions did not cause the average values of vitamin C, vitamin A and ash content to fall below 120 mg/100g, 1.40 mg/100g and 8.0% respectively. Further studies should be carried out on the storability, shrinkage and rehydration properties of dried samples, and modeling and optimization of the process.

Author Biographies

Michael Mayokun Odewole, University of Ilorin

Graduate Assistant, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Adesoji Matthew Olaniyan, Federal University Oye-Ekiti

Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

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Published

2016-03-22

Issue

Section

VI-Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering