Drying of Tropical Fruit Pulps: Spouted Bed Process Optimization as a Function of Pulp Composition

Abstract

Results of drying of tropical fruit pulps in spouted beds (SBs) are presented, focusing on the effects of fruit pulp composition on the SB fluid dynamics and process performance and the development of new products formulated from mixtures of pulps with varied composition. It was verified that high starch and lipid contents favored stable fluid dynamics and high powder production efficiency, while high reducing sugar concentrations resulted in bad dynamic regime and very low powder production. Powder production efficiency was statistically correlated with the pulp composition. Also, drying of mixtures of fruit pulps with addition of starch and lipids was investigated. Results of fluid dynamics, drying performance, and sensory tests of yogurts enriched with the powders revealed promising potential of the SB for obtaining high-quality fruit powders.