Electrical conductivity and performance evaluation of verjuice concentration process using ohmic heating method

The verjuice sample (14.5 ± 0.2% total soluble solid [TSS] content) was concentrated (at 102 ± 2°C evaporation temperature) until reach 50% TSS content by applying ohmic heating at 13, 15, 17, and 19 V/cm voltage gradients. The total process times up to 50% TSS content were determined as 2,100, 1,500, 1,200, and 1,020 s for 13, 15, 17, and 19 V/cm, respectively. The electrical conductivity values increased until reach 32% TSS content and then showed a decrease until the final TSS content. The total energy consumption values increased as the voltage gradient decreased. The total power and specific water removal ratio (SWRR) values decreased as the voltage gradient decreased. The efficiency of ohmic heating assisted concentration process increased with the applied voltage gradient and it ranged from 71.27 to 75.22%. By evaluating the effects of ohmic heating conditions applied in the present study on total process time, total energy consumption, and process efficiency, 19 V/cm voltage gradients could be recommended to be optimum evaporation conditions of verjuice concentration in case of decreasing process time and higher energy efficiency. Practical applications: Fruit juices are generally concentrated to extend their shelf life. Therefore, for concentration purposes, various techniques, such as thermal evaporation, freezing methods, and membrane techniques, are applied in the fruit juice industry. This technique has some disadvantages, such as high energy requirements, the formation of undesirable compounds, high initial investment cost, and high failure rate to reach the desired total soluble solid content. The ohmic heating method, which is among the alternative heating methods, has advantages such as high energy efficiency, shorter processing time, higher product quality, and not causing wastewater. As a result of this study, it is thought that the verjuice samples were successfully concentrated up to 50% TSS content by using the ohmic heating method and this method can be used as an alternative method instead of the traditional method due to higher process efficiency and shorter process time.