Color change kinetics of spinach undergoing microwave drying

In this present study, the effect of microwave output power and sample amount on color change kinetics of Turkey spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) were investigated by using microwave drying technique. The color parameters for the color change of the materials were quantified by the Hunter L (whiteness/darkness), a (redness/greenness), and b (yellowness/blueness) system. These values were also used for calculation of the total color change ( DE), chroma, hue angle, and browning index. The microwave drying process changed color parameters of L, a, and b, causing a color shift toward the darker region. The values of L and b decreased, while values of a and total color change (DE) increased during microwave drying. The mathematical modeling study of color change kinetic showed that L and b fitted to a first-order kinetic model, while a and total color change (DE) followed by a zero-order kinetic model. However, chroma and browning index (BI) followed a first-order kinetic model, while hue angle followed a zero-order kinetic model. To illustrate the relationship of the L, a, b, total color change (DE), chroma, hue angle, and browning index depending on the ratio of the microwave output power to sample amount, the data adequately fitted to a quadratic (second order polynomial) model. For calculation of the activation energy for color change kinetic parameters, the exponential expression based on an Arrhenius equation was used.