THE USE OF PELEGS EQUATION TO MODEL OSMOTIC CONCENTRATION OF PAPAYA

A two parameter non exponential model was recently proposed by Peleg t o describe moisture sorption curves. This study was designed to examin e the predictive capacity of the model for osmotic concentration data and to further investigate the characteristics of the parameters in th e equation. The equation was used to model the kinetics of water remov al and solute uptake, in terms of moisture content (MC) and soluble so lids (SS) respectively, during the osmotic concentration of papaya. Th e model fitted the experimental observations accurately, with regressi on coefficients that varied from 0.982 to 0.997 and from 0.976 to 0.99 6 for MC and SS respectively, and with maximum root-mean-square deviat ions of 0.6 g water/100g and 0.5-degrees Brix, for moisture content an d soluble solids respectively. An inverse relationship was found betwe en k2 parameter and syrup concentration as well with MC and SS.