• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.957-964
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum spray drying conditions of soft persimmon latte using response surface methodology that is a statistical procedure used for optimization studies. A central composite design was applied to investigate the effects of independent variables, inlet temperature ($X_1$), air flow rate ($X_2$), and feed flow rate ($X_3$), on responses such as yield, water absorption index, and total phenolic compounds. Statistical analysis revealed that independent variables significantly affected all the responses. A maximum yield of 8.11 g was obtained at $90^{\circ}C$ of $X_1$, 51.82 mL/min of $X_2$ and 7.00 mL/min of $X_3$. A minimum water absorption index of 0.58 was obtained at $101^{\circ}C$ of $X_1$, 60.00 mL/min of $X_2$ and 17.00 mL/min of $X_3$. A maximum total phenolic compounds of $298.02{\mu}g/mL$ was obtained at $90^{\circ}C$ of $X_1$, 43.33 mL/min of $X_2$ and 17.00 mL/min of $X_3$. In conclusion, the best spray drying conditions were as follows: $X_1$, $90^{\circ}C$; $X_2$, 53 mL/min; $X_3$, 17 mL/min. Under those optimal conditions, the powder's yield (7.46 g), water absorption index (0.54), and the content of total phenolic compounds ($294.75{\mu}g/mL$) were estimated.