Applications of Non-thermal Technologies and Thermal Technologies in Food Processing

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Process Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2024 | Viewed by 10116

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Guest Editor
Department of Food Technology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570000, Brazil
Interests: non-thermal technology processing; fruit juice processing; starch modification; protein modification; bioaccessibility
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-thermal technologies are widely used in the food technology area to reduce the adverse effects of temperature on the nutritional quality of processed foods.

In recent years, new thermal and non-thermal technologies have been developed to ensure safety and shelf life. In addition, the development of new ingredients with technological characteristics desired by the food industry has been based on the application of these technologies.

This Special Issue on “Applications of Non-Thermal Technologies and Thermal Technologies in Food Processing” seeks high-quality works focusing on the latest novel advances in non-thermal technology. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Improvement in the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds;
  • Food waste valorization;
  • Starch, protein and fibre modification;
  • Flavour modulation.

Prof. Dr. Pedro Henrique Campelo
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ultrasoud
  • cold plasma
  • pulsed electric field
  • high pressure
  • irradiation
  • pulsed light

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2564 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Fluidized Bed Drying, Soaking, and Microwaving on the Phytic Acid Content, Protein Structure, and Digestibility of Dehulled Faba Beans
by Shu Cheng, Daniel J. Skylas, Chris Whiteway, Valeria Messina and Timothy A. G. Langrish
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3401; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123401 - 10 Dec 2023
Viewed by 990
Abstract
Different pre-treatments of pulses affect the content of antinutritional factors and protein digestibility. This study addresses the challenge of removing phytic acid, which is one of the major anti-nutritional factors present in faba beans. From this study, fluidized bed drying at 120 °C [...] Read more.
Different pre-treatments of pulses affect the content of antinutritional factors and protein digestibility. This study addresses the challenge of removing phytic acid, which is one of the major anti-nutritional factors present in faba beans. From this study, fluidized bed drying at 120 °C and 140 °C removed 8–22% of the phytic acid present. Phytic acid is thermally stable, and drying did not lead to a large reduction in concentration. Greater drying temperatures and drying times had little effect on the removal of phytic acid. Soaking the dehulled faba beans in 0.1% citric acid for 12 h at 37 °C removed 51 ± 11% of the phytic acid. After soaking for 12 h, microwaving the faba beans for two minutes removed over 70% of the phytic acid, including soaking in water or soaking in 0.1% citric acid solution. The mechanism for phytic acid reduction after microwaving appears to be linked with changes in the cotyledon cellular structure of the faba bean, as demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy. The protein secondary structure in the faba bean was modified after microwaving. The in vitro protein digestibility of dehulled faba beans used in this study increased by 15.7% compared with the fresh faba beans of 75.5 ± 0.5%. The in vitro digestibility of dehulled faba beans increased to 88.3 ± 0.6% after two minutes of microwaving, so both dehulling and microwaving improved the digestibility of the faba bean proteins. Full article
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28 pages, 1943 KiB  
Article
Rheological and Physical Properties Affected by the Thermal Processing of Fruit: A Bibliometric Analysis
by Igor G. Vidigal, Mariana P. Melo, Patrícia C. M. Da Rós, Ana K. F. Carvalho, Severino M. Alencar and Ana L. G. Ferreira
Processes 2023, 11(10), 2874; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102874 - 29 Sep 2023
Viewed by 713
Abstract
This work describes a bibliometric analysis of recent articles addressing the applications of thermal processing in foods, as well as its effect on their physicochemical and rheological properties. The analysis involved utilizing the software tools VOSviewer and RStudio to map the knowledge domain. [...] Read more.
This work describes a bibliometric analysis of recent articles addressing the applications of thermal processing in foods, as well as its effect on their physicochemical and rheological properties. The analysis involved utilizing the software tools VOSviewer and RStudio to map the knowledge domain. Initially, 665 articles from peer-reviewed journals were retrieved, but only 92 (13.8%) of them discussed thermal processing related to fruit applications and were published in indexed journals. However, this number was further narrowed down to 35 (5.3%) articles specifically focused on the target subject. A rigorous appraisal of these 35 articles allowed it to be classified according to its aim, kind of fruit used, thermal processing treatment, and its rheological, physicochemical, and other properties. The leading countries in the general area of food thermal processing research according to documents and citations were China, USA, Brazil, India and Spain. It is important to highlight that conventional thermal processing continues to be investigated for applications in fruits; on the other hand, it is expected that the use of unconventional or emerging technologies will bring significant advances to the food industry in the future. Full article
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16 pages, 9303 KiB  
Article
The Use of Graph Theory for Modeling and Analyzing the Structure of a Complex System, with the Example of an Industrial Grain Drying Line
by Ryszard Myhan, Ewelina Jachimczyk and Marek Markowski
Processes 2023, 11(10), 2812; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102812 - 22 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
This article describes a method for analyzing and modeling a complex agrotechnological system using the example of an industrial grain drying line. Elements of graph theory were used to develop an effective tool for modeling such a system and to formally validate its [...] Read more.
This article describes a method for analyzing and modeling a complex agrotechnological system using the example of an industrial grain drying line. Elements of graph theory were used to develop an effective tool for modeling such a system and to formally validate its structure. The proposed method can be applied to transform a general structural model into a set of relational models, to formally evaluate the resulting models’ functionality, and to comprehensively analyze different variants of the process. The method can be deployed at the stage of designing and operating an industrial grain drying line, and it can also be adapted for use in other areas, such as processing lines in the agri-food industry. Full article
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12 pages, 1406 KiB  
Article
Effect of Atmospheric Cold Plasma on the Aroma of Pineapple Juice: Improving Fresh and Fruity Notes and Reducing Undesired Pungent and Sulfurous Aromas
by Elaine C. M. Porto, Edy S. de Brito, Sueli Rodrigues and Fabiano A. N. Fernandes
Processes 2023, 11(8), 2303; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11082303 - 01 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 874
Abstract
Pineapple aroma is characterized by several esters, which confers its fresh and fruity aroma. However, high concentrations of methyl hexanoate and thioesters bring an undesired pungently sweet aroma and sulfurous notes to pineapple juice. This study investigates the chemical effects of cold plasma [...] Read more.
Pineapple aroma is characterized by several esters, which confers its fresh and fruity aroma. However, high concentrations of methyl hexanoate and thioesters bring an undesired pungently sweet aroma and sulfurous notes to pineapple juice. This study investigates the chemical effects of cold plasma on the aroma compounds and descriptors of pineapple juice, evaluating the effects of plasma on its esters and thioesters. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma was applied to pineapple juice, varying the excitation frequency (50 to 1000 Hz) and processing time (10 to 20 min) at constant voltage (20 kV). Plasma treatment induced successive demethylation of esters and the conversion of methyl esters into ethyl esters. Thioesters showed to be more stable under plasma treatment. Proper setting of plasma operating conditions enabled an improvement in the fresh and fruity descriptors of pineapple juice, a reduction of its undesired pungently sweet aroma, but an increase in the influence of sulfurous descriptors. Plasma treatment at 50 Hz reduced the undesired aromas of pineapple while maintaining its fresh and fruity descriptors. Full article
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12 pages, 2273 KiB  
Article
Thermal Treatment and High-Intensity Ultrasound Processing to Evaluate the Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Amazon Fig Juices
by Josias M. dos A. Cruz, Andrezza S. Ramos, Renilto F. Corrêa, Edgar A. Sanches, Pedro H. Campelo, Valdely F. Kinupp and Jaqueline de A. Bezerra
Processes 2023, 11(2), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11020408 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1598
Abstract
The present paper evaluated the influence of heat treatment (HT) and high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) on the chemical profile of the Amazon fig (Ficus subapiculata, Moraceae) juices. Antioxidant activity, quantification of carotenoids, total phenolic compounds (TPC), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, color [...] Read more.
The present paper evaluated the influence of heat treatment (HT) and high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) on the chemical profile of the Amazon fig (Ficus subapiculata, Moraceae) juices. Antioxidant activity, quantification of carotenoids, total phenolic compounds (TPC), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, color and chemical profile (NMR) were evaluated. Treatments did not change the pH (3.4–3.5), titratable acidity (0.044–0.048%) and soluble solids (2.3–2.4 °Brix). The highest antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS) and TPC were presented by the HT-treated juice, which was equivalent to 1235 ± 11 µM TE, 1440 ± 13 µM TE and 312 ± 5 mg GAE mL−1, respectively. The treatments influenced the color luminosity according to the L* and a* parameters, while the b* parameter showed no significant change. The L* parameter was elevated in all treated samples compared to the control sample. Analyzing the parameter a* f, it was verified that the sample with thermal treatment (HT) was different from the control sample, but presented similarity with the samples of the HIUS processes. The 1H NMR spectra of the juices showed similar chemical profiles in all treatments. The compounds α-glucose, β-glucose, fructose, citric, malic, quinic, and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were identified. The HT treatment presented higher efficiency to extract the antioxidant compounds from fig juices. The HIUS treatments with constant energy density also improved the tolerance of the antioxidant compounds, especially in conditions of higher potency and reduced time. Future studies will be devoted to carry out microbiological analysis and evaluate the stability of treated juices. Full article
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9 pages, 2283 KiB  
Article
Influence of Chitosan and Glucono-δ-Lactone on the Gel Properties, Microstructural and Textural Modification of Pea-Based Tofu-Type Product
by Cheng-Hsun Jao, Meng-I Kuo, Chao-Jung Chen and Jung-Feng Hsieh
Processes 2022, 10(8), 1639; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10081639 - 18 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1695
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of the addition of chitosan (0–1.0%) or glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) (0–60 mM) on the gel properties, microstructure, and texture of pea-based tofu-type product. Following the addition of 0.5% chitosan or 20 mM GDL, we observed a significant decrease in [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of the addition of chitosan (0–1.0%) or glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) (0–60 mM) on the gel properties, microstructure, and texture of pea-based tofu-type product. Following the addition of 0.5% chitosan or 20 mM GDL, we observed a significant decrease in the hardness and cohesiveness of the tofu, resulting in a slightly discontinuous network structure with pores smaller than those in samples without chitosan or GDL. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed the induced aggregation of pea legumin (11S) and vicilin (7S) subunits (30, 34, and 50 kDa), legumin α subunit (40 kDa), and legumin β subunit (20 kDa) by chitosan or GDL. It appears that chitosan and GDL could potentially be used as food additives for the development of texture-modified pea-based tofu-type products. Full article
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Review

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26 pages, 2912 KiB  
Review
Alternative Processes for Apple Juice Stabilization and Clarification: A Bibliometric and Comprehensive Review
by Lea Nehmé, Myriam El Tekle, Nathalie Barakat, Alexandra El Khoury, Samar Azzi-Achkouty and Youssef El Rayess
Processes 2024, 12(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12020296 - 30 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Apple juice is one of the most consumed fruit juices in the world. Raw apple juice is viscous, turbid, and brown in color and contains several spoilage microorganisms. These are the reasons behind the application of several steps of clarification and stabilization prior [...] Read more.
Apple juice is one of the most consumed fruit juices in the world. Raw apple juice is viscous, turbid, and brown in color and contains several spoilage microorganisms. These are the reasons behind the application of several steps of clarification and stabilization prior to juice commercialization. Thermal pasteurization remains the most used process for apple juice microbial stabilization, but it damages its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. Juice settling used for clarification does not allow the achievement of the desired level of clarification. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive and bibliometric review of all the alternative treatments for thermal pasteurization in order to reduce microorganisms and patulin levels such as pulsed electric fields, microwave processing, high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasonication, etc., and their effect on apple juice characteristics as well as the techniques used for apple juice clarification. Full article
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19 pages, 366 KiB  
Review
A Review on Sweet Potato Syrup Production Process: Effective Parameters and Syrup Properties
by Kowsar Rezvanian, Shahryar Jafarinejad and Adelia C. Bovell-Benjamin
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3280; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123280 - 23 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1514
Abstract
Sweet potato is always considered a food item that gives a sufficient stock of calories, nutrients, and minerals, and its syrup has numerous applications in the food industry. There is a need to review sweet potato syrup production processes in order to develop [...] Read more.
Sweet potato is always considered a food item that gives a sufficient stock of calories, nutrients, and minerals, and its syrup has numerous applications in the food industry. There is a need to review sweet potato syrup production processes in order to develop cost-effective and reliable designs for its production. The overall objective of this study is to update the current knowledge of the sweet potato syrup production processes and factors affecting its production. This study briefly reviews the sweet potato (its varieties, cultivation, and chemical composition/nutritional values), syrup production processes (acidic hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, acid–enzyme hydrolysis, and other processes to improve the quality of syrup), and effective parameters (e.g., enzyme type, enzyme dosage, temperature, pH, the role of water, and the role of starch and starch pretreatment) on the syrup production process. Finally, based on the gaps identified in the area, it discusses the conclusions and future outlook. Full article
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