Vegetos

Abstract

In this study, an attempt has been made to convert sapodilla pulp into powder using foam mat drying technique. Box-Benkhen Design was used to optimize the process variables to obtain maximum FE, minimum FDV and FD. The GMS concentration of 5.5%, CMC concentration of 0.63% and WT of 7 min were found to be efficient for foaming of sapodilla pulp. Then foamed sapodilla pulp produced at optimum conditions were subjected to convective drying at temperatures of 60, 70 and 80°C. The drying characteristics, moisture content and drying rate were assessed for different experiments. The moisture content of the dried sapodilla powder found in the range of 3.19 to 4.13% (d.b). The physiochemical properties of dried sapodilla powder such as density, Hausner ratio, Carr index, hygroscopicity, wettability, dispersibility, ascorbic acid content, WSI and WAI were studied. Based on the flowability, solubility, dispersibility characteristics and ascorbic acid retention, drying temperature of 70°C was found optimum for producing sapodilla powder from foamed pulp.