Optimizing Thermal Processing of Broccoli: Model Development, Numerical Simulation, Experimental Validation

Abstract

AbstractKinetic models describing the thermal inactivation of peroxidase and degradation of broccoli (Brassica Oleracea var. Italica) color were coupled with heat transfer equation (2D conductive heat transfer in cylindrical packed broccoli samples), and their simultaneous numerical simulation followed by experimental validation was carried out. Obtained results revealed that modeling the rate constants of the reactions with log logistic equation provides a better prediction in comparison with the most popular Arrhenius equation. It was observed that processing at temperatures lower than 80 °C is not recommended for processing of broccoli due to its adverse effect on the color of samples and considerable longer process time needed for assuring sufficient inactivation of enzyme at the cold spot. Temperatures above 80 °C were suitable for this purpose because the process time needed for inactivating peroxidase at the cold spot of sample not only affected the green color of samples negatively, but oppositely it resulted in a higher greenness than the original value.