Thermoanalytical study of protein state during rehydration and rehydration kinetics in osmotically dehydrated pork meat (Longissimus dorsi): Insights from Peleg and Weibull models

Abstract

Osmotically dehydrated pork meat (Longissimus dorsi), in the molasses, was used in the aim to study the protein state during rehydration. Protein state and rehydration kinetics are crucial for obtaining the desired meat product quality. The thermoanalytical techniques were employed to follow protein state and kinetics of rehydration. Obtained kinetic parameters were Peleg's rate constant (k₁), 34.43, 6.23, and 10.15 (min (kg d.m.)(kg water)^-1) and Peleg's capacity constant (k₂), 0.726, 1.243, and 0.860 at 20, 30, and 40 °C, respectively. Parameters of Weibull's model, α, β (min), at 20 °C were 34.4; 0.86, at 30 °C were 6.24; 1.24, at 40 °C were 10.15; 0.86. From obtained enthalpies (ΔH_d) and temperatures (T_d) of meat proteins denaturation, it was found that proteins were partly denatured and gradually lost their structure and thermal stability during rehydration. Rehydration kinetic parameters indicated that most efficient rehydration was found to be at the 40 °C.

Keywords: Denaturation; Kinetic models; Meat protein; Rehydration; Thermal analysis.