Resumen

ARREOLA, Sandra I  y  ROSAS, Martha E. Vacuum Application in Osmotic Dehydration of Figs (ficus carica). Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2007, vol.18, n.2, pp. 43-48. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642007000200006.

The aim of this work was the effective diffusion coefficients, water loss and solid gain mass transfer coefficients calculation (Dew, Des, Kw y Ks respectively) from an osmotic dehydration of figs, at three different sucrose solution concentration (55, 65 and 75%) and two temperatures (35 and 45ºC), under constant vacuum (39996.6 Pa); a spherical geometry and unsteady state was consider as well as a firs order kinetic. As a rule, the water diffusion and mass transfer coefficients increased with temperature, and the main values were obtained for a 65% sucrose concentration and 35ºC. In this way we show the variables mentioned effect in the mass transfer and time process, which represents advantages on other dehydration operations. The osmotic solution concentration and temperature affects during process considerably owing to a temperature increase that intensify water elimination and sucrose penetration, in addition to the vacuum pressure that contribute to open the fig structure, decreasing the time process.

Palabras clave : mass transfer; osmotic dehydration; ficus carica; figs.