Shelf-life estimate of standardized sugarcane juice stored under refrigeration

Author(s)

Ivana Morais Geremias de Andrade

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2014-03-06

Examining board members

Rodrigo Rodrigues Petrus; Eliana Setsuko Kamimura; Flávio Luís Schmidt

• Advisor: Rodrigo Rodrigues Petrus

Abstract

The present study consisted in standardizing the total soluble solids (SS) and titratable acidity (TA) ratio, in small scale processing and in estimating the shelf-life (SL) of sugarcane juice stored under ideal, commercial and abusive temperature conditions. A central composite rotational design with eleven formulations of sugarcane juice was used to investigate the ratio of the formulation that resulted in the best sensory acceptance in a wide range of SS (13,1 a 25,9 ºBrix) and TA (0,02 a 0,09% citric acid). Found the best formulation, three batches of standardized sugarcane juice were processed (L1, L2 and L3). The juice´s stabilization was based on the following combination of thermal and non-thermal methods: acidification, pasteurization (95 °C/30 s), aseptic filling in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and refrigerated storage. Physico-chemical, microbiological and enzymatic tests, including the determination of the peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities, were performed in the fresh and freshly processed (time zero of SL) juice. For the SL study, standardized pasteurized sugarcane juice samples were stored at temperatures of 4, 8, 12 and -18 °C (control), kept in the dark. The estimate of the product´s SL was based on microbiological and sensory tests. The evaluation of the microbiological stability was based on the psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi counts. Nine-point hedonic scale tests for appearance and flavor evaluation were used in order to assess the sensory stability. The mean values of sensory acceptance, for overall impression, of the eleven formulations showed no statistical difference (p > 0.05) among them. It was found that only the effect of TA was significant (p < 0.05). The chosen formulation for sugarcane juice standardization was that one with TA 0.09 % (pH near 3.9) and SS 19.5 ºBrix. For the freshly processed standardized pasteurized juice, the pH was less than 4.4 in L1, L2 and L3. The mesophilic counts did not exceed 50 CFU/mL. The presence of coliforms at 45 ºC and Salmonella was no confirmed. The average POD and PPO activities were 2.11 U/mL and 1.03 U/mL respectively. The psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi counts did not exceed 102 CFU/mL. The juice´s SL stored at 4, 8 and 12 °C were 71, 74 and 21 days, respectively. It was concluded that the juice was well accepted in a wide range of SS and TA, and the combination of methods was effective in reducing the enzyme activity and microbial counts. Moreover, temperatures of 4 and 8 °C were proved to be effective in maintaining the sugarcane juice´s quality for a period of time compatible with the consumer market demand. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/14564-8 - Stabilization and shelf life analysis of standardized sugarcane juice under refrigerated storage
• Grantee: Ivana Morais Geremias de Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master