Modelling and optimization of drying rate and quality parameters of foam mat dried mango powder

A study on modeling and optimization of foam mat drying of ripe mango was carried out, three levels of whipping durations (5 min, 10 min and 15 min, three levels of Egg white albumen powder concentrations as foaming agent (6% (w/w), 12%(w/w) and 18% (w/w)), three levels of Xanthan gum concentration as foam stabilizing agent (0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06%)and three levels of air drying temperature (50°C, 60°C and 70 °C) as input parameters were used. Design Expert 6.06 version was used to design the experiment in order to get all possible combinations of durations and concentrations. After washing and deseeding all samples of fresh mango, the pulp was foamed using egg white powder and liquid as foaming agent, the was stabilized by using xantham gum at different concentrations. The foamed products were all dried at 50°C, 60°C and 70 °C respectively in an instrumented cabinet dryer. The following output parameters were modeled and optimized with Design Expert 6.0.6 version: drying rate, vitamin C, beta carotene, crude protein, crude fibre, fat content, ash content, moisture content, carbohydrate and total soluble sugar. Ten (10) model equations, one for each of the output parameters were developed, and checked for adequacy and validity. All developed model equations were found to present functional relationships between input and output parameters. Hence, all developed model equations can be used as reliable tools for estimating, predicting and conducting analysis of the process. Best optimized results were selected base on the one that is most desirable. One of the ways of explaining optimization is that, it is the process of getting the values of input parameters that will either maximize or minimize the output parameters, drying rate (maximized), vitamin C (maximized), beta carotene (maximized), crude protein (maximized), crude fibre (maximized), fat (maximized), ash content (maximized), moisture content (minimized), carbohydrate (maximized), total soluble sugar (maximized) and moisture ratio (minimized).