Impact of PEF (Pulsed Electric Fields) on Olive Oil Yield and Quality

Olive oil holds significant importance in the European diet and is renowned globally for its sensory attributes and health benefits. The effectiveness of producing olive oil is greatly influenced by factors like the maturity and type of olives used, as well as the milling techniques employed. Generally, mechanical methods can extract approximately 80% of the oil contained in the olives. The rest 20% of the oil remains in the olive waste generated at the end of the process. Additionally, significant amounts of bioactive compounds like polyphenols are also lost in the olive pomace. Traditionally, heat treatment, enzymes, and other chemicals are used for the enhancement of oil extraction; however, this approach may impact the quality of olive oil. Therefore, new technology, such as pulsed electric field (PEF), is of great benefit for nonthermal yield and quality improvements

Meat substitutes : Resource demands and environmental footprints

FThe modern food system is characterized with high environmental impact, which is in many cases associated with increased rates of animal production and overconsumption. The adoption of alternatives to meat proteins (insects, plants, mycoprotein, microalgae, cultured meat, etc.) might potentially influence the environmental impact and human health in a positive or negative way but could also trigger indirect impacts with higher consumption rates. Current review provides a condensed analysis on potential environmental impacts, resource consumption rates and unintended trade-offs associated with integration of alternative proteins in complex global food system in the form of meat substitutes. We focus on emissions of greenhouse gases, land use, non-renewable energy use and water footprint highlighted for both ingredients used for meat substitutes and ready products. The benefits and limitations of meat substitution are highlighted in relation to a weight and protein content. The analysis of the recent research literature allowed us to define issues, that require the attention of future studies.Peer reviewe

Intensification of food freezing under the effect of pulsed electric fields

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’étude de l’effet du traitement par champs électriques pulsés (CEP) sur l’amélioration de la congélation des tissus végétaux. Pour l’ensemble de notre étude, nous avons démontré que l’effet des champs électriques pulsés est complexe. Le prétraitement entraîne une électroperméabilisation des membranes. Les analyses calorimétriques ont mis en évidence que l’électroperméabilisation conduit à une augmentation de la teneur en eau liée. Les transferts de matière entre les milieux intra et extracellulaires sont intensifiés. Cela conduit à une modification dynamique de la composition des deux compartiments au cours de la congélation. En effet, les essais réalisés sur le cryo-pressage assisté par CEP démontrent que les températures de fusion sont plus basses et que le jus récupéré est beaucoup plus concentré. Il a été constaté que le temps de congélation d’un échantillon soumis préalablement à un prétraitement par champs électriques pulsés est sensiblement plus court que celui d’un échantillon sans prétraitement. D’autre part, l’électroperméabilisation facilite les transferts de matière avec le milieu extérieur. Le prétraitement par CEP accélère notamment l’imprégnation des tissus végétaux par des cryoprotectants, l’évaporation de l’eau libre et la sublimation de l’eau congelée. Finalement, le prétraitement par champs électriques pulsés induit des modifications de la structure des échantillons, de leur composition et influence favorablement les transferts couplés de masse et d’énergie.This work is focused on the study of the effects of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on the improvement of plant tissues freezing. These studies have demonstrated that the effects of the PEF are rather complex. The PEF treatment results in membrane electro-permeabilization. Calorimetric analyses showed that the electro-permeabilization leads to an increase in bound water content. It also results in acceleration of mass transfer processes between intra- and extracellular parts of a tissue. The dynamic modification of the composition of these two parts during the freezing was observed. Experimental tests using the PEF-assisted cryo-pressing demonstrated that the melting temperatures were lower and that the extracted juice was much more concentrated as compared to untreated tissues. Moreover, the PEF-treatment allowed significant decreasing of freezing time. Furthermore, the electro-permeabilization facilitates the mass transfer with the external medium. The PEF treatment accelerates the impregnation of plant tissues by cryoprotectants, evaporation of free water and sublimation of frozen water. Finally, the treatment by PEF induces changes in the structure of the samples, their composition and positively influences both the mass and energy transfers

Applicability of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Pre-Treatment for a Convective Two-Step Drying Process

Available literature and previous studies focus on the Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) parameters influencing the drying process of fruit and vegetable tissue. This study investigates the applicability of PEF pre-treatment considering the industrial-scale drying conditions of onions and related quality parameters of the final product. First, the influence of the PEF treatment (W = 4.0 kJ/kg, E = 1.07 kV/cm) on the convective drying was investigated for samples dried at constant temperatures (65, 75, and 85 °C) and drying profiles (85/55, 85/65, and 85/75 °C). These trials were performed along with the determination of the breakpoint to assure an industrial drying profile with varying temperatures. A reduction in drying time of 32% was achieved by applying PEF prior to drying at profile 85/65 °C (target moisture ≤7%). The effective water diffusion coefficient for the last drying section has been increased from 1.99 × 10−10 m2/s to 3.48 × 10−10 m2/s in the PEF-treated tissue. In case of the 85/65 °C drying profile, the PEF-treated sample showed the highest benefits in terms of process efficiency and quality compared to the untreated sample. A quality analysis was performed considering the colour, amount of blisters, pyruvic acid content, and the rehydration behavior comparing the untreated and PEF-treated sample. The PEF-treated sample showed practically no blisters and a 14.5% higher pyruvic acid content. Moreover, the rehydration coefficient was 47% higher when applying PEF prior to drying

Applicability of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Pre-Treatment for a Convective Two-Step Drying Process

Available literature and previous studies focus on the Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) parameters influencing the drying process of fruit and vegetable tissue. This study investigates the applicability of PEF pre-treatment considering the industrial-scale drying conditions of onions and related quality parameters of the final product. First, the influence of the PEF treatment (W = 4.0 kJ/kg, E = 1.07 kV/cm) on the convective drying was investigated for samples dried at constant temperatures (65, 75, and 85 °C) and drying profiles (85/55, 85/65, and 85/75 °C). These trials were performed along with the determination of the breakpoint to assure an industrial drying profile with varying temperatures. A reduction in drying time of 32% was achieved by applying PEF prior to drying at profile 85/65 °C (target moisture ≤7%). The effective water diffusion coefficient for the last drying section has been increased from 1.99 × 10−10 m2/s to 3.48 × 10−10 m2/s in the PEF-treated tissue. In case of the 85/65 °C drying profile, the PEF-treated sample showed the highest benefits in terms of process efficiency and quality compared to the untreated sample. A quality analysis was performed considering the colour, amount of blisters, pyruvic acid content, and the rehydration behavior comparing the untreated and PEF-treated sample. The PEF-treated sample showed practically no blisters and a 14.5% higher pyruvic acid content. Moreover, the rehydration coefficient was 47% higher when applying PEF prior to drying

The Effect of Traditional and Non-Thermal Treatments on the Bioactive Compounds and Sugars Content of Red Bell Pepper

The aim of the study was an investigation of the effect of traditional and non-thermal treatment on the bioactive compounds of red bell pepper. As a thermal process, blanching in water and in steam was studied, while for non-thermal the sonication, pulsed electric field treatment and their combination were used in this experiment. The red bell peppers were evaluated based on quality attributes such as: total carotenoids content; polyphenols; vitamin C; antioxidant activity and sugars content. Vitamin C and sugar content were analyzed using liquid chromatography and other measurements were determined based on the spectrophotometric method. Results showed that the blanching in water or in steam reduced bioactive compounds concentration; whereas non-thermal treatments as pulsed electric field (PEF) applied separately or in combination with ultrasound (US + PEF) let to obtain similar or slightly lower content of bioactive compounds in comparison to untreated peppers. When sonication (US) and combined treatment as PEF + US were applied; in most cases reduction of bioactive compounds concentration occurred. This effect was probably related to the effect of relatively long (30 min) ultrasound treatment. The application of appropriate parameters of non-thermal processing is crucial for the high quality of processed material

Response Surface Methodology as a Tool for Optimization of Pulsed Electric Field Pretreatment and Microwave-Convective Drying of Apple

The benefits of using hybrid drying are increasingly remarked. Microwave-convective drying (MW-CD) links the advantages of both microwave and convective drying methods and allows the negative phenomena that appear when the methods are used separately to diminish. Most importantly, reduced specific energy consumption and relatively short drying time are observed, which can be additionally decreased by the application of various preliminary treatments, e.g., pulsed electric field (PEF). Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of PEF pretreatment on the MW-CD of apples and its chosen physicochemical properties. This research was designed using response surface methodology (RSM). The first variable was microwave power (100, 200, and 300 W), and the second was specific energy input (1, 3.5, and 6 kJ/kg). Optimization responses were assumed: drying time to MR = 0.02, water activity, hygroscopicity after 72 h, rehydration ratio, relative dry matter content, total phenolic content, ability to scavenge ABTS•+ radical cations, and DPPH• radicals based on the EC50 values. The most optimal parameters were comprised of specific energy intake of 3.437 kJ/kg and microwave power of 300 W (desirability equalled 0.624), which provided the most minimized drying time and obtaining of apples with the most desired properties

Response Surface Methodology as a Tool for Optimization of Pulsed Electric Field Pretreatment and Microwave-Convective Drying of Apple

The benefits of using hybrid drying are increasingly remarked. Microwave-convective drying (MW-CD) links the advantages of both microwave and convective drying methods and allows the negative phenomena that appear when the methods are used separately to diminish. Most importantly, reduced specific energy consumption and relatively short drying time are observed, which can be additionally decreased by the application of various preliminary treatments, e.g., pulsed electric field (PEF). Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of PEF pretreatment on the MW-CD of apples and its chosen physicochemical properties. This research was designed using response surface methodology (RSM). The first variable was microwave power (100, 200, and 300 W), and the second was specific energy input (1, 3.5, and 6 kJ/kg). Optimization responses were assumed: drying time to MR = 0.02, water activity, hygroscopicity after 72 h, rehydration ratio, relative dry matter content, total phenolic content, ability to scavenge ABTS•+ radical cations, and DPPH• radicals based on the EC50 values. The most optimal parameters were comprised of specific energy intake of 3.437 kJ/kg and microwave power of 300 W (desirability equalled 0.624), which provided the most minimized drying time and obtaining of apples with the most desired properties

Emerging techniques for cell disruption and extraction of valuable bio-molecules of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp.

International audienc

Sustainable extraction of valuable components from Spirulina assisted by pulsed electric fields technology

The study investigated the potential of pulsed electric fields (PEF) technology application for the improvement of cell disintegration and subsequent extraction/fractionation of cyanobacteria Arthrospira maxima into valuable components (phycocyanin, proteins, oils and carbohydrates). Pulsed electric fields were applied to fresh A. maxima suspension, dried powder and dried sticks in combination with water as extraction solvent and freeze-thawing. Pulsed electric fields application for cell disruption reached approximately 90% increase of C-phycocyanin extraction compared to bead milling. Obtained fractions of phycocyanin and bulk proteins were also of higher purity and had twice lower environmental impact than similar fractions obtained without Pulsed electric fields treatment. Extracts with improved purity can be directly applied in pharma and food industry without any further processing and purification steps