Comparative Study of Mass Transfer in Wet and Dry Osmotic Dehydration

Abstract

[EN] The differences in the external osmotic medium, dry or dissolved osmotic agent and its concentration (constant or variable) can significantly influence the kinetics of mass transfer. The objective of this work was to compare water and solute transport during the osmotic dehydration of strawberry pieces under different external conditions, wet or dry osmotic agent, with varying types of sugar (sucrose, fructose and isomaltulose). The evolution of the liquid phase concentration as well as the net fluxes under the different scenarios was described and modelled. Results showed that mass transfer kinetics were higher when the concentration of the external medium was variable, in the wet process slightly superior than in the dry process.