Current trends in cacti drying processes and their effects on cellulose and mucilage from two Colombian cactus species

The effect of temperature and drying technologies on mucilage and cellulose (obtained by the microwave-assisted extraction technique, MAE) from Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) and Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica (CC) was determined using a conventional oven (CO) and Refractive Window (RW). Mathematical modeling was performed from drying kinetics data using the Lewis, Henderson-Pabis, Page, and Logarithmic models. Activation Energy (Ea) and Diffusivity (D) were also determined. The model with the best fit was the logarithmic one, with a correlation coefficient (R(2)) greater than 0.99. The obtained activation energies were 22.81 kJ mol(−1) for Refractance window (RW) and 31.44 kJ mol(−1) using conventional hot air drying (CO) while a diffusivity of 2.9 ∗10(−8) m(2) s(−1) for RW and 1.3∗10(−8) m(2) s(−1) for CO were found as well. According to our results, a greater drying efficiency and a less chemical deterioration of the plant sample are obtained by drying with Refractance window.