Effects of processing factors and conditions on the cracking efficiency of Tympanotonus fuscatus and Pachymelania aurita periwinkles: Response surface approach

Abstract

Periwinkle meat presents economic potentials, mainly due to its excellent protein quality and availability all year round. The effects of processing conditions and operational parameters such as cracking speed, feed rate, and heat conditioning time on the cracking efficiencies of T. fuscatus and P. aurita periwinkles were investigated. A 3-factors, 5-levels central composite design of response surface methodology was used for the modeling and optimization of the process. Quadratic regression models describing these effects were developed. Data analyses were done using multiple linear regression at p = 0.05, thereby revealing that the processing conditions significantly influence the periwinkle cracking efficiency. The quadratic models were selected to predict the cracking efficiencies of T. fuscatus and P. aurita periwinkles. The optimum cracking efficiency of 84.34% at an optimal cracking speed of 134 rpm, the feed rate of 0.26 kg/s, and heat conditioning time of 6 min were obtained for T. fuscatus. In comparison, the predicted optimum cracking efficiency of 86.03% at an optimal cracking speed of 133 rpm, the feed rate of 0.23 kg/s, and heat conditioning time of 8 min were obtained for P. aurita periwinkle variety.

Keywords

• Processing
• Cracking efficiency
• Periwinkle
• T. fuscatus
• P. aurita