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Modeling and Simulation of Mass Transfer in Food Processing: Recent Advances in Governing Equations, Workflow, and
Sihui Chen1, Zhou Qin1, Tianxing Wang1
1School of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Quantifying mass transfer in complex food materials requires advanced modeling and simulation. This review synthesizes governing equations and workflows for accurate food processing predictions and optimization.
Area of Science:
- Food Engineering
- Transport Phenomena
- Computational Modeling
Background:
- Mass transfer is critical in food processing but challenging due to food material complexity.
- Experimental methods alone are insufficient to capture spatiotemporal transport dynamics.
- Existing reviews lack a comprehensive synthesis of governing equations, simulation workflows, and practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a unified review of mass transfer in food processing.
- To link coupled transport laws with governing equations, simulation workflows, and applications.
- To guide the selection and implementation of simulation frameworks for food engineering.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing governing formulations (Fickian diffusion, conservation-based, heat-mass coupling, multicomponent, porous-medium flow).
- Organizing a unified simulation workflow from transport identification to validation.
- Discussing representative applications in drying, coupled heat-mass processes, and porous foods.
Main Results:
- Detailed summary of governing equations with assumptions and applicability.
- A structured simulation workflow for mass transfer modeling in food.
- Examples of applying these models to various food processing scenarios.
Conclusions:
- Advanced simulation frameworks are essential for interpreting mechanisms and optimizing food processes.
- Future research should focus on integrated, structure-aware, validated, and transferable simulation tools.
- Enhanced modeling capabilities will drive innovation in food engineering.
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