Experimental Study and Modelling of Moisture Sorption Isotherms of Salted Largehead Hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) at 25 and 35°C

Abstract

The moisture sorption characteristics of salted largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) were investigated within the limits of water activity (0.11-0.98) at 25 and 35°C using a self-made instrument for the measurement of the equilibrium moisture content according to the static gravimetric method. The shape of the sorption isotherms was sigmoidal. The moisture sorption isotherms exhibited significant hysteresis. The hysteresis of salted fish may be due to the salt permeating into the body of the fish as a result of desorption and adsorption processes. Seventeen mathematical models were fit to the experimental data for the equilibrium moisture content at different water activity levels. The Ferro-Fontan equation provided the best fit for the experimental data of the equilibrium moisture content among the 17 models assessed for the sorption isotherms at 25 and 35°C. The net isosteric heats of sorption decreased gradually with increases in moisture content. The isosteric heats of sorption ranged from 44.59 kJ/mol to 45.61 kJ/mol between the moisture contents of 22.22% and 43.25% for salted largehead hairtail.