Mass transfer analysis during osmotic dehydration of pumpkin fruits using binary and ternary aqueous solutions of sucrose and sodium chloride

Osmotic dehydration experiments of pumpkin with binary aqueous solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride and ternary solutions with both solutes at 298 K were carried out. Weight reduction, water loss and solute acquisition kinetics were determined. Experimental data were fitted employing a diffusional model considering samples as spheres and the external resistance to the mass transfer negligible. The model gave as parameter of fitting an effective diffusion coefficient for each component transferred (water, sucrose and sodium chloride) for each experimental condition assayed. Correlations between the effective diffusivity and solute concentration were established for binary and ternary systems.