Optimization of the foam-mat drying process to develop high-quality tomato powder: A response surface methodology...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Foam-mat drying is an effective method for producing fruit powders.
• Optimizing process parameters is crucial for achieving desired physicochemical properties in tomato powder.
• Egg albumin (EA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are commonly used as foaming and stabilizing agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal formulation of process parameters for producing tomato powder with enhanced physicochemical properties using foam-mat drying.
• To investigate the effects of egg albumin (EA) concentration, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) concentration, and drying temperature on tomato powder characteristics.
• To establish a predictive model for optimizing the foam-mat drying process of tomato powder.

Main Methods:

• Response Surface Methodology (RSM) combined with Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) was employed for optimization.
• Independent variables included EA concentration (1-5%), CMC concentration (1-1.5%), and drying temperature (60-70°C).
• Physicochemical properties such as foam density, expansion, stability, water-soluble index (WSI), water absorption index (WAI), total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid content, titratable acidity, and color were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The study involved 17 experimental runs using BBD, yielding a wide range of physicochemical properties.
• ANOVA analysis showed high coefficients of determination (R² > 85%) for the developed models.
• The optimal formulation was determined to be 4.59% EA, 0.70% CMC, and a drying temperature of 60°C, with experimental values closely matching predictions (RSE ≤ 5%).

Conclusions:

• The optimized foam-mat drying parameters significantly enhance the physicochemical properties of tomato powder.
• RSM coupled with BBD is a suitable approach for optimizing food drying processes.
• The findings provide a robust framework for industrial-scale production of high-quality tomato powder.