ESPOCH Congresses (Jun 2022)

Estimation of Thermal Properties using Mathematical Models to Determine the Freezing Time of Arazá (Eugenia Stipitata)

  • Falconí Novillo José Francisco,
  • Valdiviezo Rogel Carlos Jefferson,
  • Ramírez Cando Lenin Javier

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18502/espoch.v2i2.11188
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 113 – 128

Abstract

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Abstract The araza, also known as quince or Amazon guava, is a climacteric fruit typical of the Ecuadorian Amazon region. The fruit has a vitamin A, B1, and C content of 7.75%, 9.84%, and 74%, respectively, with the vitamin C content being twice that of the orange. However, as a fruit that needs to be stored at 90% humidity, it is very perishable. Therefore, the current study was carried out to determine the physicochemical characteristics, thermal properties, and freezing time of the fruit through mathematical models using the RStudio software to simulate the freezing process and thus preserve the vitamin content. The arazá freezing time was 2.98 hr at –18ºC, which is well within the normal parameter for freezing fruits while maintaining their nutritional characteristics.

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