scholarly journals Drying in Brazil Nut Processing as Tool for Prevention of Contamination by Aflatoxins

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Ariane M. Kluczkovski ◽  
Allyne C. P. da Silva ◽  
Janaína Barroncas ◽  
Jacqueline Lima ◽  
Henrique Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Brazil Nut ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Amazonas State

Drying is fundamental in the processing of Brazil nuts to prevent contamination by aflatoxins which are produced by fungi, as well as to extend the shelf life of the product. The binomial time/temperature is applied to guarantee the efficiency of drying stages. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters of moisture content (mc) and water activity (Aw) in processed and unprocessed nuts obtained from a processing plant in the Amazonas state, Brazil, during the harvests of 2019 and 2020. Differences were observed regarding Aw between the harvests, and in processed and unprocessed samples. However, for mc, no differences between years or interaction between factors were observed. Processed samples from 2019 and 2020 showed a significant reduction in moisture content when compared to unprocessed samples and this may be because some modernization occurred in the drying process and raw material was stored under better conditions. We therefore conclude that the time/temperature binomial has a direct impact on product safety and should be applied from the moment of collection of raw material until the industrial process begins to guarantee economic maintenance of the production chain.

scholarly journals Sorption isotherms of Brazil nuts

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 776-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando M. Botelho ◽  
Nilso J. Boschiroli Neto ◽  
Silvia de C. C. Botelho ◽  
Gabriel H. H. de Oliveira ◽  
Michele R. Hauth
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Equilibrium Moisture Content ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Sorption Isotherms ◽  
Static Method ◽  
Acid Solutions ◽  
Brazil Nut ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
Abstract Knowledge ◽  
Sorption Phenomenon

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the water sorption phenomenon in Brazil nut seeds will allow proper handling of this product, especially with regard to adequate conditions for safe storage. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the sorption isotherms (desorption and adsorption) of Brazil nuts, fitting different mathematical models to the experimental data, as well as to examine the hysteresis effect. To obtain the sorption isotherms, the static method was employed at temperatures of 25, 35, 45 and 55 °C and air relative humidities varying from 10 to 80%. The psychrometric conditions of the air were acquired with the aid of acid solutions and specific saturated saline left inside desiccators with the samples. It was verified that for a given isotherm, the equilibrium moisture content of Brazil nuts increases with water activity increment. In addition, at a constant water activity, equilibrium moisture content decreases with temperature increase. The Copace, Henderson and Oswin are the models that best describe the hygroscopicity of the Brazil nut seed for both the adsorption and desorption processes. Hysteresis was more pronounced at lower temperatures and higher values of water activity. The moisture content value for storage at temperatures less than 55 °C, without the risk of fungal development, must be lower than 8.2% (d.b.).

Growth of aflatoxigenic moulds and aflatoxin formation in Brazil nuts

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Johnsson ◽  
M. Lindblad ◽  
A. Thim ◽  
N. Jonsson ◽  
E. Vargas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Aspergillus Nomius ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Storage

The present study aimed at gaining more knowledge of the growth of aflatoxigenic moulds and aflatoxin production in Brazil nuts in relation to humidity conditions and storage time. For this purpose, the growth of aflatoxigenic moulds and the increase in aflatoxin levels in Brazil nuts was studied in the laboratory at temperature and humidity conditions that are relevant for the Amazon region. Fresh unprocessed Brazil nuts in shell were inoculated with an aflatoxin producing strain of Aspergillus nomius previously isolated from Brazil nuts. The nuts were stored at 27 °C in combination with 97, 90 or 80% surrounding relative humidity in a respirometer for up to 3 months. The General Linear Model (GLM) was used for evaluation of the effect of water activity and time on aflatoxigenic mould levels and on aflatoxin levels, as well as the relationship between mould and aflatoxin levels. During storage at the highest relative humidity (97%) aflatoxin formation occurred rapidly, whereas storage at 90% relative humidity resulted in slower aflatoxin formation. At the lowest relative humidity (80%), aflatoxin formation occurred sporadically during storage. The increase in mould and aflatoxin levels along the production chain is also described, using field data collected in the state of Para, Brazil. The growth of aflatoxigenic moulds and aflatoxin formation increased rapidly between 40-90 days following collection of the nuts, before the nuts reached the final drying stage at the processing plant. In addition, a logistic regression model predicting the probability that the European legislative limit of 4 µg/kg for aflatoxins in nuts will be exceeded in relation to colony counts of either one selected aflatoxigenic mould strain (laboratory experiments) or of a mixture of aflatoxigenic strains (field data) was developed. The probability that total aflatoxin levels will exceed the European legislative limit of 4 µg/kg increased rapidly from approx. 30% to above 80% for both experimental and field samples at mould levels between 2 and 3 log cfu/g.

scholarly journals Ultrasound Drying of Rose Hips: a Process Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-86
Author(s):  
Elena Verboloz ◽  
Marina Ivanova ◽  
Vera Demchenko ◽  
Sergey Fartukov ◽  
Nikita Evona
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
State Standard ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Drying Time

Introduction. Rose hips are rich in macro- and micronutrients. Unfortunately, heat treatment destroys most nutrients. Ultrasonic technologies make it possible to reduce the drying time and lower the temperature regime. The research objective was to adjust ultrasound technology to rose hip production in order to reduce the loss of vitamins and improve the quality indicators of the dried product. Study objects and methods. The research featured rose hips of the Rosa canina species collected in the south of Kazakhstan. This subspecies of wild rose is poor in vitamin C. Nevertheless, this shrub is extremely common in Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The raw material was dried according to standard methods. One group of samples was treated with ultrasound, while the other served as control. Both groups underwent a sensory evaluation and were tested for moisture and vitamin C. Results and discussion. The rose hips were dried in a combination steam oven with a built-in ultrasonic wave generator. The research revealed the following optimal parameters of the ultrasound drying process: frequency of ultrasonic vibrations – 22 kHz, processing time – 2.5 h, temperature in the combination steam oven – +56°C, initial moisture content – 30%. The resulting product met the requirements of State Standard. The loss of moisture was 57%. According to State Standard 1994-93, the initial moisture content should be 15% or less. Time decreased from 360 min to 160 min, and the initial moisture was 13%. The experiment confirmed the initial hypothesis that ultrasonic treatment improves the drying process by improving quality indicators and preserving vitamin C in raw materials using. Conclusion. Ultrasound treatment during moisture removal from rose hips provides a resource-saving technology that fulfills an economically and socially important function.

Identification and characterization of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus Section Flavi by polyphase approach from Brazil nuts produced in agroforesty production system

2019 ◽  
pp. 768
Author(s):  
Maria do Socorro Souza Ribeiro ◽  
Silvia Helena Marques da Silva ◽  
Otniel Freitas- Silva ◽  
Laura Figueiredo Abreu ◽  
Consuelo Lúcia Sousa de Lima
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Identification ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Brazil Nut ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
Aspergillus Section Flavi ◽  
Aspergillus Nomius ◽  
Aspergillus Section

Brazil nut is an Amazonian raw material with a fundamental role in the socioeconomic organization of the extractive areas of the Legal Amazon Brazil's largest socio-geographical division, composed of nine states are part of the Amazon basin. However, due to the precarious conditions of storage and processing, the nut is frequently subjected to contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi. These fungal species have high similarity, which makes it difficult to identify them only by traditional methods. This research had as objective the identification of a species of Aspergillus Flavi isolated from Brazil nut samples, through the polyphase approach. To identify the fungal isolate, macromorphological and micromorphological characterization techniques by microcultive in a slide  were used; The molecular identification followed by sequencing compared the nucleotide sequences with the GenBank database, the aflatoxigenic  potential of the strain was evaluated by HPLC. According to the results, the macromorphological and micromorphological analysis showed color characteristics and reproductive structures typical of the genus Aspergillus and the Flavi section. However, only from the results of molecular identification in which the strain showed 100% similarity with Aspergillus nomius and the metabolic production profile in which the species was producing the 4 types of aflatoxins (AFG2= 1177,23, AFG1 = 2458, 90, AFB2 = 860,23, AFB1 = 2370,06) it was possible to carry out the correct identification of the fungus as Aspergillus nomius. The combination of different techniques for identification of the strain Aspergillus section Flavi allowed a more accurate characterization.  The identification of strain as Aspergillus nomius with aflatoxigenic potential in Brazil nuts confirms the affinity of these microorganisms for this substrate.  

Drying Kinetics of Solid Biomass

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. Barreiros Martins ◽  
Marco Andre´ Reis ◽  
Manuel Eduardo Ferreira ◽  
Jose´ Carlos Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Drying Kinetics ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Electrical Heating ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Settling Chamber ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Solid Biomass

The growing costs of conventional energy resources has significantly changed the economies and led to an increased demand for biomass. Biomass in its natural state has a high moisture content, which reduces the combustion efficiency and may cause problems in its processing. One of the most widely used forms of solid biomass concerns pellets that are often manufactured from saw dust. The manufacturing process requires that the raw material should be supplied in controllable conditions of humidity (in the order of 10%, dry basis); otherwise the final product will have poor mechanical properties. So it is essential to do the drying process to reduce the moisture content to acceptable values and to improve the efficiency of using of this product. In this way becomes necessary to study the various parameters that influence the drying process of biomass. For this purpose a drying wind tunnel was built. The facility consists of a ventilator, an electrical heating system and settling chamber and a testing chamber. This facility allows the study of the influence of moisture content and initial grain size of samples and the temperature and air velocity in the drying process of biomass. Air is supplied into a sample of biomass and its temperature and humidity are monitored along time. The humidity is measured by weighting the sample at regular intervals. Measurements were carried out on pine sawdust that was sieved into samples of various particle size. The temperature and air velocity was varied for each sample and the drying kinetics were used to derive working correlations from the experimental data. The results have shown that the gas temperature is the most important parameter in the drying of sawdust. The data was also correlated with dimensionless parameters.

scholarly journals Brazil nuts: nutritional benefits from a unique combination of antioxidants

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Giovanini de Oliveira Sartori ◽  
Marisa A. B. Regitano-d’Arce ◽  
Leif H. Skibsted
Keyword(s):  
Health Effect ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Phenolic Antioxidants ◽  
Food Labels ◽  
Brazil Nut ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
Nutritional Benefits

Brazil nut is the seed of the Bertholletia excelsa tree, which grows naturally in the rainforests of South America. The production chain is environmentally sustainable as seeds are collected from the hard-shelled indehiscent fruits as they fall on the forest floor, without the need of deforestation. Brazil nut is among the most popular and commercially important tree nuts, and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease among other health benefits have been related to their consumption. A high content of both soluble and bound phenolic antioxidants, especially in the brown skin of the kernel, partly explains this positive health effect together with a high content of oleic acid and linoleic acid. The ω-3/ω-6 is less favorable, but the relatively high content of delta-tocopherol for a tree nut and the highest selenium (Se) level among all foods warrant other health benefits such as antioxidant activity and anticancer effects. Se levels in Brazil nuts vary strongly depending on origin, and recommendations for their safe consumption should be made and added in food labels in order to avoid selenosis.

CATFISH DRYING (Clarias Batraclus) USING ‘TEKO BERSAYAP’ SOLAR DRYER

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Yuwana Yuwana
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Drying Rate ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Drying Time ◽  
Ambient Relative Humidity ◽  
Solar Dryer

Experiment on catfish drying employing ‘Teko Bersayap’ solar dryer was conducted. The result of the experiment indicated that the dryer was able to increase ambient temperature up to 44% and decrease ambient relative humidity up to 103%. Fish drying process followed equations : KAu = 74,94 e-0,03t for unsplitted fish and KAb = 79,25 e-0,09t for splitted fish, where KAu = moisture content of unsplitted fish (%), KAb = moisture content of splitted fish (%), t = drying time. Drying of unsplitted fish finished in 43.995 hours while drying of split fish completed in 15.29 hours. Splitting the fish increased 2,877 times drying rate.

scholarly journals Wood Chip Drying through the Using of a Mobile Rotary Dryer

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Del Giudice ◽  
Andrea Acampora ◽  
Enrico Santangelo ◽  
Luigi Pari ◽  
Simone Bergonzoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Black Locust ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Cocurrent Flow ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Rotary Dryer

Drying is a critical point for the exploitation of biomass for energy production. High moisture content negatively affects the efficiency of power generation in combustion and gasification systems. Different types of dryers are available however; it is known that rotary dryers have low cost of maintenance and consume 15% and 30% less in terms of specific energy. The study analyzed the drying process of woody residues using a new prototype of mobile rotary dryer cocurrent flow. Woodchip of poplar (Populus spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) pruning were dried in a rotary drier. The drying cycle lasted 8 h for poplar, 6 h for black locust, and 6 h for pruning of grapevine. The initial biomass had a moisture content of around 50% for the poplar and around 30% for grapevine and black locust. The study showed that some characteristics of the biomass (e.g., initial moisture content, particle size distribution, bulk density) influence the technical parameters (i.e., airflow temperature, rate, and speed) of the drying process and, hence, the energy demand. At the end of the drying process, 17% of water was removed for poplar wood chips and 31% for grapevine and black locust wood chips. To achieve this, result the three-biomass required 1.61 (poplar), 0.86 (grapevine), and 1.12 MJ kgdry solids−1 (black locust), with an efficiency of thermal drying (η) respectively of 37%, 12%, and 27%. In the future, the results obtained suggest an increase in the efficiency of the thermal insulation of the mobile dryer, and the application of the mobile dryer in a small farm, for the recovery of exhaust gases from thermal power plants.

scholarly journals Cherry Tomato Drying: Sun versus Convective Oven

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Alfeo ◽  
Diego Planeta ◽  
Salvatore Velotto ◽  
Rosa Palmeri ◽  
Aldo Todaro
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Drying Time ◽  
Oven Drying ◽  
Sun Drying ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Final Water Content ◽  
Drying Curves ◽  
Drying Conditions

Solar drying and convective oven drying of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) were compared. The changes in the chemical parameters of tomatoes and principal drying parameters were recorded during the drying process. Drying curves were fitted to several mathematical models, and the effects of air temperature during drying were evaluated by multiple regression analyses, comparing to previously reported models. Models for drying conditions indicated a final water content of 30% (semidry products) and 15% (dry products) was achieved, comparing sun-drying and convective oven drying at three different temperatures. After 26–28 h of sun drying, the tomato tissue had reached a moisture content of 15%. However, less drying time, about 10–11 h, was needed when starting with an initial moisture content of 92%. The tomato tissue had high ORAC and polyphenol content values after convective oven drying at 60 °C. The dried tomato samples had a satisfactory taste, color and antioxidant values.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document