A New Model for Describing the Water Sorption Isotherm of Foods

Abstract

ABSTRACT This work investigated the applicability in the food area of a new sorption equation recently developed by Ferro Fontán et al. (1982). The equation may be written, 1n (γ/a w ) =α (m) ‐r , where, γ, α and r are parameters to be determined, m is the moisture content, and a w is water activity. It was found that the three parameter equation is able to describe the water sorption isotherm of 18 different foods in an extensive range of a w (up to about 0.95) with only 2–4% error (average) in the predicted moisture contents. Foods examined comprised, among other, oilseeds, starchy foods, and proteins.