Applied Chemical Engineering

The effect of water activity and temperature on the water content during the preservation of dates “MAJHOUL variety”

Oubouali Morad

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Zine-eddine Yassine

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Ajbli Nouhaila

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Kzaiber Fouzia

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Oussama Abdelkhalek

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Ellaite Mohammed

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

Boutoial Khalid

Laboratory of the Engineering and Applied Technologies, Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v7i3.5505

Keywords: Date; water activity; water content; temperature

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Abstract

Several parameters, including temperature, water activity and water content, play a crucial role in maintaining food quality over time. Temperature control during the preservation process is essential to inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms while avoiding the degradation of nutrient and aromatic compounds. Proper storage conditions help to prolong the life of food. The main objective of this study is to optimize the preservation process of dates to maintain their quality, including organoleptic quality and nutritional characteristics, by examining the influence of temperature, water activity on water content. The research aims to determine how these parameters influence the quality of dates. In this perspective, an uncoded unit regression equation of water content, temperature and water activity was developed. The model is more meaningful and has a better predictive capacity for new observations. Water activity is the main characteristic influenced, followed by temperature. Specifically, increasing water activity increases water content, while increasing temperature reduces water content.

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