The Process Intensiftcation of the Inulin Extraction from Vegetable Raw Materials
Inulin is an important ingredient that opens up new opportunities for the food industry to create balanced and delicious foods. The technological scheme of inulin production consists of the following main stages: acceptance and preparation of raw materials; grinding; extraction; thickening of the extract; inulin precipitation; inulin purification; inulin drying. The main process in inulin obtaining is the extraction process that influences the effectiveness of the entire technology. The paper concerns the research results of the statics and kinetics of the aqueous inulin extraction process from topinambur for its intensification and optimization. A man run experiment series with later experimental data processing to study the extraction process statics, i.e. the equilibrium states of the interacting substances system. The experiment temperatures were 20, 45 and 70 °C until equilibrium concentration was attained, using ultrasonic radiation or without it. Mathematical processing of the research results made it possible to obtain the distribution coefficient φ (the ratio of the equilibrium concentrations of the extracted substance in both phases) characterized the equilibrium during extraction. Researchers revealed distribution coefficient dependences on the hydromodule at various temperatures, using ultrasonic radiation and without it. They obtained approximating polynomial hydromodule and temperature dependences on the distribution coefficient and presented a graphical interpretation of the distribution coefficient dependence on the temperature and hydromodule. Researchers determined diffusion and mass transfer coefficients depending on the influencing factors. They studied extraction kinetics depending on the regime parameters (temperature and ultrasonic radiation) to analyze the mechanism and the rate of extraction. As an experiments result, a man determined the inulin content in the extract characterizing the temperature and duration process dependences and stated kinetic extraction curves for real ranges of variable parameters.