Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying

Abstract Solar drying is a sustainable process that may impact the quality of dried food. This is because, pigments contained in food are sensitive to sunlight, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can affect them. We applied biopolymer-based coatings on strawberry, from hydro-colloidal solutions o...

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Main Authors: A. López-Ortiz, I. Y. Pacheco Pineda, L. L. Méndez-Lagunas, A. Balbuena Ortega, Laura Guerrero Martínez, J. P. Pérez-Orozco, J. A. del Río, P. K. Nair
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2021-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88901-5
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author A. López-Ortiz
I. Y. Pacheco Pineda
L. L. Méndez-Lagunas
A. Balbuena Ortega
Laura Guerrero Martínez
J. P. Pérez-Orozco
J. A. del Río
P. K. Nair
author_facet A. López-Ortiz
I. Y. Pacheco Pineda
L. L. Méndez-Lagunas
A. Balbuena Ortega
Laura Guerrero Martínez
J. P. Pérez-Orozco
J. A. del Río
P. K. Nair
author_sort A. López-Ortiz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Solar drying is a sustainable process that may impact the quality of dried food. This is because, pigments contained in food are sensitive to sunlight, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can affect them. We applied biopolymer-based coatings on strawberry, from hydro-colloidal solutions of Opuntia ficus indica-mucilage, fenugreek, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, and guar gum to evaluate their potential use as UV filters for solar drying of food. Thermal properties and the optical transmittance, absorbance and reflectance of the coatings were measured to assess their influence on food-sunlight interaction. During the drying experiments, the moisture content, total anthocyanins (TA), and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were measured. Optical and thermal properties are influenced by the biopolymer-based coatings. Also, the optical properties are influenced by the coating thickness. The differences in optical and thermal properties influence the drying process. Differences exist in the drying rate for strawberry slices with coating, compared with those without the coatings. In general, the TA and TPC content in the product are better preserved under solar drying than in control experiments done in a drying oven. A partial transmittance of solar UV radiation is recommended to obtain increased TA and TPC contents in the dried product.
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spelling doaj.art-6556326f53f8429a9b1691067f1f5a5b2022-12-21T19:32:05ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-05-0111111610.1038/s41598-021-88901-5Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar dryingA. López-Ortiz0I. Y. Pacheco Pineda1L. L. Méndez-Lagunas2A. Balbuena Ortega3Laura Guerrero Martínez4J. P. Pérez-Orozco5J. A. del Río6P. K. Nair7Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto Tecnológico de Zacatepec, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de MéxicoInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR)Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto Tecnológico de Zacatepec, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de MéxicoInstituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoAbstract Solar drying is a sustainable process that may impact the quality of dried food. This is because, pigments contained in food are sensitive to sunlight, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can affect them. We applied biopolymer-based coatings on strawberry, from hydro-colloidal solutions of Opuntia ficus indica-mucilage, fenugreek, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, and guar gum to evaluate their potential use as UV filters for solar drying of food. Thermal properties and the optical transmittance, absorbance and reflectance of the coatings were measured to assess their influence on food-sunlight interaction. During the drying experiments, the moisture content, total anthocyanins (TA), and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were measured. Optical and thermal properties are influenced by the biopolymer-based coatings. Also, the optical properties are influenced by the coating thickness. The differences in optical and thermal properties influence the drying process. Differences exist in the drying rate for strawberry slices with coating, compared with those without the coatings. In general, the TA and TPC content in the product are better preserved under solar drying than in control experiments done in a drying oven. A partial transmittance of solar UV radiation is recommended to obtain increased TA and TPC contents in the dried product.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88901-5
spellingShingle A. López-Ortiz
I. Y. Pacheco Pineda
L. L. Méndez-Lagunas
A. Balbuena Ortega
Laura Guerrero Martínez
J. P. Pérez-Orozco
J. A. del Río
P. K. Nair
Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
Scientific Reports
title Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
title_full Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
title_fullStr Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
title_full_unstemmed Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
title_short Optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
title_sort optical and thermal properties of edible coatings for application in solar drying
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88901-5
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