Thermodynamics of sorption isotherms and storage stability of spray dried sweetened yoghurt powder.

Sorption isotherm is a quantitative approach to predict the shelf life of dried foods. Adsorption isotherms of spray dried sweetened yoghurt powder (SYP) were determined by static gravimetric technique at 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C. The data obtained were fitted to eight different sorption models. A non-linear least square regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the model constants. The experimental sorption data were best fitted to four parameter Peleg model. The monolayer moisture contents found from GAB model were 4.88, 4.54, 3.86 and 3.52% at 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C, respectively. The maximum net isosteric heat of sorption and sorption entropy of SYP were 9.399 kJ/mol and 20.28 J/mol K, respectively. The Gibb's free energy change for sorption was in the range 3436.19-303.91 J/mol. The storage stability in terms of moisture content, thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acid, hydroxymethyl furfural values and starter counts of SYP packed in aluminium laminated polyethylene (ALPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) were studied along with their change kinetics. The relationship between the water vapour permeability of packaging materials and adsorbed moisture (determined from GAB equation) in powder was used to predict the shelf life and was predicted as 28 and 44.44 days in LDPE and ALPE pouches, respectively.