The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof

The drying of insects is an important step in their processing. This research aimed to investigate the impact of a pulsed electric field (PEF), immersion in ethanol (EtOH), and combined (immersion in EtOH followed by PEF) treatment on the convective drying process, the emission of CO<sub>2,<...

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Main Authors: Radosław Bogusz, Katarzyna Pobiega, Ewa Gondek, Artur Wiktor, Dorota Witrowa-Rajchert, Małgorzata Nowacka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2366
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author Radosław Bogusz
Katarzyna Pobiega
Ewa Gondek
Artur Wiktor
Dorota Witrowa-Rajchert
Małgorzata Nowacka
author_facet Radosław Bogusz
Katarzyna Pobiega
Ewa Gondek
Artur Wiktor
Dorota Witrowa-Rajchert
Małgorzata Nowacka
author_sort Radosław Bogusz
collection DOAJ
description The drying of insects is an important step in their processing. This research aimed to investigate the impact of a pulsed electric field (PEF), immersion in ethanol (EtOH), and combined (immersion in EtOH followed by PEF) treatment on the convective drying process, the emission of CO<sub>2,</sub> and the quality of the dried insects with regard to such elements as water content and activity, rehydration and hygroscopic properties, optical properties, internal structure, and microbiological quality. In applying a PEF, the drying time was made longer (up to 21%), but the rehydration and hygroscopic properties were improved (about 15–16.5% and 8.3–21.7%, respectively) compared to the untreated sample. Using a PEF prior to EtOH treatment improved the rehydration properties (about 3.9–5.9%), while the hygroscopicity was slightly lower compared to the PEF-treated samples. Furthermore, immersion in ethanol (both alone and after PEF) provided a lighter color of dried insects and more outstanding microbiological quality, e.g., the absence of water-borne and food-borne pathogens and anaerobic spore-forming bacteria. This study revealed that combined pretreatment seems to be the most promising method for insects as regards obtaining better rehydration and comparable hygroscopic properties, as well as an attractive color compared to untreated insects, and, above all, in ensuring suitable microbiological quality.
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spelling doaj-art-2c5d7aee47d343928ee0f4e5e79d1cee2025-08-20T02:55:31ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-12-011412236610.3390/agriculture14122366The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties ThereofRadosław Bogusz0Katarzyna Pobiega1Ewa Gondek2Artur Wiktor3Dorota Witrowa-Rajchert4Małgorzata Nowacka5Department of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandThe drying of insects is an important step in their processing. This research aimed to investigate the impact of a pulsed electric field (PEF), immersion in ethanol (EtOH), and combined (immersion in EtOH followed by PEF) treatment on the convective drying process, the emission of CO<sub>2,</sub> and the quality of the dried insects with regard to such elements as water content and activity, rehydration and hygroscopic properties, optical properties, internal structure, and microbiological quality. In applying a PEF, the drying time was made longer (up to 21%), but the rehydration and hygroscopic properties were improved (about 15–16.5% and 8.3–21.7%, respectively) compared to the untreated sample. Using a PEF prior to EtOH treatment improved the rehydration properties (about 3.9–5.9%), while the hygroscopicity was slightly lower compared to the PEF-treated samples. Furthermore, immersion in ethanol (both alone and after PEF) provided a lighter color of dried insects and more outstanding microbiological quality, e.g., the absence of water-borne and food-borne pathogens and anaerobic spore-forming bacteria. This study revealed that combined pretreatment seems to be the most promising method for insects as regards obtaining better rehydration and comparable hygroscopic properties, as well as an attractive color compared to untreated insects, and, above all, in ensuring suitable microbiological quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2366edible insectsconvective dryingpulsed electric fieldethanolgreenhouse gas emission
spellingShingle Radosław Bogusz
Katarzyna Pobiega
Ewa Gondek
Artur Wiktor
Dorota Witrowa-Rajchert
Małgorzata Nowacka
The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
Agriculture
edible insects
convective drying
pulsed electric field
ethanol
greenhouse gas emission
title The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
title_full The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
title_fullStr The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
title_short The Effect of Unconventional Technologies on Carbon Emissions During the Convective Drying of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) Larvae and the Selected Physical Properties Thereof
title_sort effect of unconventional technologies on carbon emissions during the convective drying of yellow mealworm i tenebrio molitor i l larvae and the selected physical properties thereof
topic edible insects
convective drying
pulsed electric field
ethanol
greenhouse gas emission
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2366
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