Abstract

Adsorption and desorption isotherms of fresh and dried Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) were determined at three temperatures (20, 40 and 60 degrees C) using a gravimetric technique. The data obtained were fitted to several models including Guggenheim-Anderson-De Boer (GAB), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Henderson, Caurie, Smith, Oswin, Halsey and Iglesias-Chirife. A non-linear least square regression analysis was used to evaluate the models. The Iglesias-Chirife model fitted best the experimental data. Isosteric heat of sorption was also determined from the equilibrium sorption data using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and was found to decrease exponentially with increasing moisture content. The enthalpy-entropy compensation theory was applied to the sorption isotherms and indicated an enthalpy-controlled sorption process. Glass transition temperature (T-g) of Cape gooseberry was also determined by differential scanning calorimetry and modelled as a function of moisture content with the Gordon-Taylor, the Roos and the Khalloufi models, which proved to be excellent tools for predicting glass transition of Cape gooseberry.