Novel, non-thermal hydrodynamic cavitation of orange juice: Effects on physical properties and stability of bioactive compounds

Effect of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) at pressure 3-15 bar and treatment time5-25 min on physical and chemical qualifies of orange juice was investigated. Processing parameters were optimized on the basis of retention of vitamin C and antioxidant activity; inactivation of pectin methyl esterases (PME) and peroxidase (POD) enzyme and stability of pH, degrees Brix, viscosity, titratable acidity and total color difference. HC of orange juice at 5 bar 15 min and 13 bar 10 min resulted into maximal overall desirability at 0.52 and 0.40 respectively. No significant change in degrees Brix, pH, titratable acidity for fresh and cavitated orange juice was observed. Only 21% and 13% of reduction in PME and POD respectively was recorded. A 94% and 91% of antioxidant activity and vitamin C retention was noted in both optimized samples. This study demonstrated that HC can produce orange juice more economically with better physical properties and nutritional value. Industrial relevance: The demand for more natural, preservative free with highest nutritional bioactive containing juices has created a need of non-thermal processing. Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) processing is novel, emerging and under explored technology for fruit juices. HC due to the formation of cavities and shock waves causes enzyme and microbial inactivation at low temperature while retaining natural bioactives with fresh-like organoleptic characteristics. It is believed worldwide that non thermal technologies like HC will be among the most cost effective, scalable and impactful liquid food processing technologies in the coming decades especially for commercial products.