Study of osmotic dehydration of kiwi fruit using sucrose solution

Abstract

Osmotic dehydration of kiwi was evaluated using 45, 55 and 65 °Brix sucrose solutions. Free moisture, water activity and solutes gain decreased in fruit during the process. Water loss rates were higher in the beginning of drying. Water activity decrease was higher when the product was in 65 °Brix solution. The equilibrium moisture content estimated by the Peleg model decreased significantly with increasing concentration of the osmotic solution, and the diffusivity values of water loss were in the range from 1.5 × 10-9 to 1.9 × 10-9 m2 s-1. The osmotic pressures of the solutions were also predicted.