Improving the quality of mandarin juice using a combination of filtration and standard homogenization

Cloud loss and pulp precipitation are serious quality defects of mandarin juice (MJ) which brake on industrialization and need to be overcome by developing stabilization process. Therefore, filtration (FT) and standard homogenization (SH) on improving the cloud stability of MJ and minimizing the loss of major qualities were investigated. The FT-SH combined treatment effectively decreased the minimal particle size below 15 mu m and sedimentation rate by 17.30%-74.40%, and increased the cloud value from 7.97% to 332.57%, results in more uniformity and cloud stability of MJ. Moreover, FT reduced the pectin methylesterase (PME) activity by 34.19%- 50.96%, browning (& UDelta;E* < 3), free and bound phenol contents (27.81% and 59.13%), and aroma intensity (p < 0.05). SH released the free phenols from bound phenols association with cloudiness. The optimum stabilization condition was considered as the 100-mesh + 20 MPa that was obviously improved the cloudiness and minimizing the color, polyphenol and aroma loss.