Sequential process with bioadsorbents and microfiltration for clarification of pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) fruit extract

• Published in: Food and bioproducts processing 2018-03, Vol.108, p.105-116
• Main Authors: de Santana Magalhães, Flávia, Cardoso, Vicelma Luiz, Reis, Miria Hespanhol Miranda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Bioactive compounds; Chitosan; Fruits; Gallic acid; Lipids; Microfiltration; Moringa; Pequi; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Polyphenols; Pretreatment; Pulp; Savannahs; Seeds; Solids; Solvent extraction processes; Studies; Total polyphenolic compounds; Water purification
• ISSN: 0960-3085; 1744-3571
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fbp.2018.02.003

•Chitosan and moringa seeds were efficient in clarifying pequi fruit extract.•Chitosan at 0.1gL−1 reduced total solids and lipids in 19% and 57%.•Chitosan pretreatment increased the permeate flux through the membrane.•Sequential microfiltration process produced a clarified pequi extract.•The microfiltration membrane retained 50% of total polyphenolic compounds. Pequi is a native fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado (savanna) which presents considerable amounts of phenolic compounds. After extraction of bioactive compounds, macroscopic pretreatments may be advantageous before purification and concentration processes. Three different bioadsorbents (chitosan and integral and defatted moringa seeds) were evaluated for pequi fruit extract clarification. A proper adsorbent concentration was proposed in order to achieve the desired clarification without reducing total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) to a large extent. All adsorbents were efficient in reducing total solids and lipids from pequi extract, but chitosan presented outstanding performance for lipid removal. The selected chitosan concentration was of 0.1gL−1 and total solids (TS), lipids and TPC reduced from 20.6 to 16.7gL−1, 1.07% to 0.46% and 1.08 to 0.77mgGAEg−1pulp (GAE, gallic acid equivalent), respectively. In a sequential process of microfiltration, the chitosan pretreatment increased the permeate flux through the membrane in approximately 27%. The permeate presented TS of 8.3gL−1, TPC of 0.54mgGAEg−1 pulp, lipid content of 0.16% and concentrations of gallic, p-coumaric and ellagic acids of 342.4, 8.43 and 175.5μgmL−1. Thus, the proposed sequential process was efficient in clarifying pequi extract.