Effect of different pretreatment methods on far-infrared drying characteristics and polysaccharides of Lycium barbarum / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To shorten the drying time of Lycium barbarum, increase its shelf life, improve the quality of dried L. barbarum products, and provide technical support for the development of wolfberry drying industry. Methods: Using L. barbarum as experiment material, after being permeated, ultrasonic treating, blanching, ultrasonic treating + permeation and ultrasonic treating + blanchting, far infrared drying test was carried out. The effects of different pretreatment methods on the far-infrared drying characteristics of L. barbarum were studied. Weibull distribution function was used to fit the drying process. The quality and microstructure of dried L. barbarum products were analyzed. Results: After being pretreated, the drying time of L. barbarum was significantly reduced, the drying rate was increased; Compared with L. barbarum without pretreatment before pre-dried, drying time after blanching pretreatment shortened 27.5%, the moisture ratio of the material decreased fastest, and drying rate was the highest. Weibull distribution function can simulate the far infrared drying process of L. barbarum under different pretreatment conditions. The range of r2 and χ2 was 0.991 73-0.999 15 and 8.13 41 × 10-5-8.846 79 × 10-4. The drying characteristics described by scale parameter (α) and shape parameter (β) were consistent with those in the drying characteristic curve. The dried product pretreated with ultrasound + permeation had the smallest color difference (6.756 4) compared with the fresh sample. The polysaccharide content inside the material (991.27 mg/g•DW) was the highest; The microstructure of the dry product obtained by the ultrasound + penetration group had the most voids, and the drying treatment had the least damage to its surface. Conclusion: Ultrasonic and osmotic pretreatment of L. barbarum before drying can not only shorten the drying time, but also improve the quality of its dried products.