RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between packaging parameters (transmission of light and oxygen) and storage temperatures (4, 20, 40⯰C) on nutrient retention of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) juice, spray-dried in the absence of an added encapsulant. ß-Carotene was more susceptible to degradation compared with lutein and α-tocopherol. Under our experimental conditions, it was observed that excluding low fluorescent light intensity and air by vacuum packaging at 20⯰C did not seem to improve nutrient retention loss over time (pâ¯>â¯0.05). The rate of ß-carotene, lutein and α-tocopherol loss displayed first order reaction kinetic with low activation energy of 0.665, 2.650 and 13.893â¯kJ/mol for vacuum, and 1.089, 4.923 and 14.142â¯kJ/mol for non-vacuum, respectively. The reaction kinetics and half-life for ß-carotene, lutein and α-tocopherol at 4⯰C and non-vacuumed were 2.2â¯×â¯10-2, 1.2â¯×â¯10-2, and 0.8â¯×â¯10-2â¯day-1, and 32.08, 58.25 and 85.37â¯day, respectively.