Investigating carotenoid loss after drying and storage of

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8. Study under controlled conditions
The water activity and oxygen experiments were carried out at 40ºC because it is the
highest possible temperature in the field and therefore this would accelerate degradation
and should highlight differences between treatments.
8.2.3 Experimental design
For a kinetics experiment, samples have to be collected over time. For the temperature,
water activity, or oxygen, the experimental design consisted of four levels (10; 20; 30;
40°C), (0.13; 0.30; 0.51; 0.76) or (0; 2.5; 10; 21%) respectively and four or five
collections (A, B, C, D, E) over time. The collection times after the start of the trial are
given in days (Tables 8-1; 8-2; 8-3).
Table 8-1: Collection times (days) for the temperature* trial in NaBr solution.
Collection 10°C 20°C 30°C 40°C
A 31 31 15 15
B 62 46 28 19
C 94 62 53 27
D 105 94 95 40
E - 105 - 54
*4 temperatures (°C) / 4-5 collections. Jars are in triplicate.
Table 8-2: Collection times (days) for the aw* trial at 40°C.
Collection LiCl MgCl2 NaBr NaCl
aw 0.13 0.30 0.51 0.76
A 15 15 15 15
B 19 19 19 19
C 27 27 27 27
D 40 40 40 40
E 54 54 54 54
*4 aw / 5 collections. Jars are in triplicate.
Table 8-3: Collection times (days) for the oxygen level* trial at 40°C.
Collection 100% 2.5% O2; 10% O2; Simulated air:
N2 97.5% N2 90% N2 21% O2; 79% N2
Oxygen
level (%)
0 2.5 10 21
A 9 9 9 9
B 11 11 11 11
C 14 14 14 14
D 16 16 16 16
E 21 21 21 21
*4 O2/ 5 collections. Jars are in triplicate.