Comparison of moisture sorption isotherm models in freeze-dried pineapple pulp

Abstract

Moisture sorption isotherms of freeze-dried pineapple pulp were determined at 5, 25, 30, 35 and 55°C. Water activity were controlled by using preselected saturated salt solutions in evacuated glass desskators according to Wolf et al. (20), where micro crystalline cellulose is the reference material for the determination of sorption isotherms. The data were correlated in terms of some empirical models involving two single parameters: models of Henderson, Oswin, Chung-Pfost, Halsey, Iglesias-Chirife, and Smith. Also, the data was correlated by the Guggenheim-Anderson-deBoer (G.A.B.) model involving three adjustable parameters. It was found that the models proposed by Henderson and Iglesias-Chirife were the most useful ones in predicting water activities at different levels and at different temperatures.