Abstract

BELEN-CAMACHO, Douglas R et al. Effect of solar drying on the contents of moisture, carbohydrates, total carotenoids and peroxide value of coroba palm (Attalea spp.) mesocarp. INCI [online]. 2007, vol.32, n.4, pp.257-261. ISSN 0378-1844.

The effect of solar drying on the contents of moisture, total sugars, starch, total carotenoids and peroxide value of coroba palm fruit mesocarp was evaluated. The mesocarp was obtained from mature fruits harvested in Caicara del Orinoco, Cedeño municipality, Bolivar state, Venezuela. Drying was carried out in a solar dryer prototype in the following conditions: external temperature 32ºC, dryer internal temperature 70ºC, relative humidity 80%, drying time 3h, mesocarp feed 1kg in sleavers of 2mm. Before and after drying, moisture, total sugars, starch, total carotenoids and peroxide value were determined. Significant differences (P<0.05) in total carotenoids and peroxide value were found, and these parameters showed significant differences (P<0.05) during storage at room temperature. Total carotenoid degradation followed a first order kinetics (R²= 0.9515) with a constant rate of 0.0208d^-1 and a half-life of 33.3d. The peroxide value did not show significant changes (P>0.05) during 21 days in storage.

Keywords : Carotenoides ; Mesocarpio ; Oxidación Lipídica ; Palma Coroba ; Pulpa ; Secado .