Kinetics Modeling of Mass Transfer Using Peleg's Equation During Osmotic Dehydration of Seedless Guava (Psidium guajava L.): Effect of Process Parameters

Peleg's equation was used to study the effect of process parameters on kinetics of mass transfer in terms of solids gain and water loss during osmotic dehydration using 30-50% (w/w) sucrose solution at 30, 40 and 50 degrees C. The experimental data were successfully fitted employing Peleg's equation with the coefficient of determination (R-2) higher than 0.88, the root mean square error, and the mean relative percentage deviation modulus (E) of less than 0.003% and 6.40% for all treatments, respectively. In all cases, initial mass transfer rate parameter (K-1) decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the solution concentration and solution temperature increased suggesting a corresponding increase in the initial mass transfer rate. Initial mass transfer rate followed an Arrhenius relationship which showed that solids gain had the highest temperature sensitivity (E-a=21.93-33.84 kJ mol(-1)) during osmotic dehydration. Equilibrium mass transfer parameter (K-2) decreased significantly (p<0.05) as solution concentration increased demonstrating that the equilibrium solid and water contents increased with increase in solution concentration. The equilibrium solid and water contents were also estimated adequately using Peleg's equation (R-2>0.78). The results of this work allow estimating the kinetics of mass transfer during osmotic dehydration in order to obtain products with determined solid and water contents.