Effect of Enzymatic Mash Fermentation on the Galacturonic Acid Content of Sound & Decayed Apples

Research Article

Austin Chromatogr. 2015;2(1): 1026.

Effect of Enzymatic Mash Fermentation on the Galacturonic Acid Content of Sound & Decayed Apples

Sadiye Arpac Yangel1, Sebahattin Nas2 and Cetin Kadakal2*

1Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Pamukkale University, Turkey

2Department of Food Engineering, Pamukkale University,Turkey

*Corresponding author: Cetin Kadakal, Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pamukkale University, Kinikli-Denizli, P.O. Box 20200 Turkey

Received: December 29, 2014; Accepted: February 18, 2015; Published: February 26, 2015

Abstract

In this study, the effects of apple decay proportions (sound, 50 and 100 % by surface), dosages of pectolytic enzymes (80, 100 and 150 mg/kg) and mash fermentation period (0, 15, 30 45 min) on brix, pH, acidity, Hunter (L, a, b) and the galacturonic acid values were determined. Galacturonic acid concentrations were done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Statistical analysis of the data showed significant differences (P<0.01) between the galacturonic acid level and decay proportion, enzyme dosage and mash fermentation period. Increasing the decay proportion of apple decreased the galacturonic acid while the enzyme dosage and mash fermentation period increased the galacturonic acid concentration. Galacturonic acid levels in sound, 50% decayed and 100% decayed apples were determined as 106.9- 1845.5 mg/kg, 73.7-977.3 mg/kg and 33.2-370 mg/kg, respectively. The highest galacturonic acid concentration (1854.5 mg/kg) was observed in sound apples with 150 mg/kg enzyme application for 45 minutes.

Keywords: Decayed apple; Galacturonic acid; HPLC; Mash fermentation

Introduction

Apple (Malusdomestica), belonging to the family Rosaceae, is one of the most nutritious and popular among all the fruits [1]. Apples are one of the most consumed fruits worldwide and are consumed fresh or in processed forms such as jam, juice or dried. Apples contain over 84% water, a variety of vitamins (except vitamin B complex), minerals (K, Mg, Ca, and Na), trace elements (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, B, F, Se, Mo) and have high fiber content [2]. Over one million tons of apple pomaceis produced in the process of apple juice concentration production. The apple pomace resources contain the availble rich pectins (10-15% calculated in terms of dried qualities) [3].

Consumption of fresh fruit is often replaced by the intake of fruit juices, due to their convenience and ability to quench thirst. According to EU Regulation 1924/2006, it is expected that fresh fruits will be exempt from health and nutritional claims, it is therefore important to evaluate their chemical composition and biological value [4].

In Europe, apple juice is a highly-consumed product, in second place after orange juice [5]. The concentrated fruit juices were obtained from fresh or natural juices by the extraction of at least 50% of their water content and they can be preserved by physical procedures. These concentrates, diluted in fresh water and returned to their original density have to show the same characteristics as the natural juices. Many of the concentrated juices are clarified juices containing only water and soluble solids [6]. In the conventional manufacturing process of this type of juice, there is a clarification stage where the insoluble solids are removed. The aim of the clarification is to remove the juice components causing the turbidity. The clarifying agents used mostly are bentonite, gelatine and silica gel and so on, their purpose being to form aggregates with the protein fraction of the juice to force its precipitation [7]. The depectination stage is simultaneous to the clarification stage and pectinolytic enzymes degrading the juice pectins are used to destroy the protection of the pectins in the suspended juice substances [8].

In the fruit juice industry, to stabilize the cloudiness of cloudy juices during storage is the most important technological problem. Pectin methyl esterase (PME, E.C. 3.1.1.11) has been shown to induce cloud loss and texture modifications of food products from fruits (juice, nectar) by action on pectins [4].

Pectin is a complex polysaccharide found in the primary cell walls and intercellular regions of higher plants. Its structure is important in determining plant cell-wall strength and flexibility. Because of its excellent gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties, the polymer is extensively utilized in the food industry [9,10]. The dominant feature of pectin is a linear chain of a-(1?4) linked D-Galacturonic Acid (GalA) units in which varying proportions of the acid groups are methyl-esterifies [11]. This homogalacturonan backbone is occasionally interrupted by rhamnose-rich regions which can be highly substituted with neutral sugar-rich side chains. Pectins display a large polydispersity with varying levels of methyl esterification and neutral sugar content [12].

In case of clear juice production an essential technological operation is mash enzymation [13]. This process leads to native pectin degradation and decreases of raw juice viscosity and, in consequence, increases in juice yield and reduced pomace volume [14,15] improving production efficiency. Enzyme application conditions: time and temperature largely depend on the enzyme used. Enzymation may affect the phenolic compounds content [16,17]. The application of enzyme treatment may be the key to increase phenolic compounds content as new technologies as pulse electric field treatment do not increase significantly the phenolic in juices [18]. Current trend in processing is towards shortening enzymation time and lowering enzymation temperature to decrease the cost of processing. The temperature of enzyme treatment was suggested by enzyme suppliers ensuring optimal effectiveness of enzyme action [19].

No published data have been found in the literature about the effect of apple decay proportions on galacturonic acid concentrations. Thus, our objectives were to investigate the effect of apple decay proportions (sound, 50, 100 % by surface) and dosages of pectolytic enzymes (80, 100 and 150 mg/kg) with different mash fermentation periods (0, 15, 30 and 45 min) on brix, pH, acidity, Hunter (L, a, b) and galacturonic acid content and to help the apple juice manufacturing industry select an appropriate procedure.

Materials and Methods

Materials

Sampling and preparation procedures: In this research the apples (Malusdomesticacv “Golden delicious”) used for the mash fermentation were obtained from a well-established local factory (Cal town in Denizli, Turkey). In each sampling day, thirty six kilograms of apples were obtained randomly for every decay group when the contents of each truck container of the day were transferred to the receiving pool (each day approximately 50 containers in the factory yard). Each apple group were transferred to the laboratory and processed for mash fermentation. Naturally decayed apples (colonized visibly by mold) were sorted as sound, 50 and 100% based on the surface ratio of mold growth and decay to apple whole surface. In order to estimate 50% of decayed ones, apples were classified by marking on the fruit surface of the decay proportion after dividing them into ten equal parts with a color pen. Each individual apple was examined closely enough to state that its surface was 0, 50 or 100% decayed. The sound and 100% decayed apples were separated visually. Three different sampling for each decay group were carried out during 3 days to obtain sound, 50 and 100% decayed apples.

Production of apple mash: The apples were cut into quarters with stainless steel knives and crushed (Arzum model prokit 444, Istanbul, Turkey) to get apple mash. The apple mash heated to 30 °C and different dosages of pectolytic enzymes and mash period were applied to the each group of apples (sound, 50 and 100% decayed). The apple mash samples were analyzed for their brix, pH, acidity, color values (Hunter L, a, b) and galacturonic acid concentrations. Following heat treatment (up to 30 °C), the apple mash was divided into three lots and nine different enzymation treatments were shown in Figure 1.