OPTIMIZATION OF OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION PROCESS OF PUMPKIN IN TERNARY SOLUTIONS

By applying the methodology of response surface analysis (RSM) optimum conditions were determined for maximum WL (water loss) and WR (weight reduction), and minimal SG (solute gain), NMC (normalized moisture content) and change of color (CC) for the osmotic dehydration (OD) of pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata) in ternary solutions (water/sucrose/sodium chloride) carried out in 32 executions (n) by application of a Face- Centered Central Composite Design (CCF) that evaluated the effect of experimental factors: sucrose concentration (40, 50 and 60 degrees Brix), sodium chloride concentration (3, 6 and 9 g/100g) and length of test (1, 2 and 3 h). The proposed model gave a good correlation of the experimental data (p> 0.05). Optimal conditions for the OD process were: 60 degrees Brix + 6.39%, concentrations of sucrose and salt, respectively, and 2 h, 24 min. treatment time.