COLDwaveTM processing: cold jet impingement to control bio-substrate drying by microwave and preserve its quality

Drying of bio-substrates such as food can be enhanced when exploiting a variety of simultaneous transport phenomena mechanisms, such as jet impingement and exposure to microwaves. To this end, a laboratory prototype has been exercised to infer on substrate quality departure. Among the various available operating conditions, there are some that address the preservation of color attributes. As an example, emphasis to pulsed exposure to microwaves would result in less spoiled substrates, while colder air would not necessarily lead to optimal processing, and higher flow rates would increase oxidation and color degradation.