Optimization of the osmotic dehydration process of plums (Prunus Salicina Lindl.) in solutions enriched with inulin, using response surface methodology

The objective of this work was to study the effect of an osmotic solution (containing water, glycerol and inulin) on water loss (WL), weight reduction (WR), inulin gain (INU), glycerol gain (GLY), water activity, colour parameters and mechanical properties of dehydrated plum. Only the second-degree polynomial model obtained using response surface methodology for WL, WR, INU and GLY proved appropriate for predicting experimental data. The optimum proportions were 522 g water, 219 g glycerol and 100 g inulin, which produced WL, WR, INU and GLY values of approximately 30% and 29%, and 119 mg/g and 373 mg/g, respectively.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an osmotic solution on the properties of dehydrated plum, including water loss, weight reduction, inulin gain, glycerol gain, water activity, color parameters, and mechanical properties. A second-degree polynomial model obtained through response surface methodology was found to accurately predict the experimental data. The optimal proportions of water, glycerol, and inulin were determined to be 522 g, 219 g, and 100 g respectively, resulting in water loss, weight reduction, inulin gain, and glycerol gain values of approximately 30% and 29%, 119 mg/g and 373 mg/g.