Definição de parâmetros para a secagem em camada de espuma (foammat drying) das folhas do mastruz (chenopodium ambrosioides l.)

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants is a practice of popular use quite common as a way of treating various diseases. Mastruz, the popular name of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., has a strong and characteristic smell. Its juice has several applications, such as anti-inflammatory, vermifuge, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antirheumatic, antipyretic, healing, among others. For medicinal plants, drying is a very recommended preparation stage because the longevity of the leaves after being removed is short. Among the various drying techniques, the foam-mat drying method stands out for being simple and low cost, allowing the use of milder temperatures. In this technique, liquid or semi-liquid foods are powdered after stirring and addition of foaming agents. This work aims to define the best parameters for the foam layer drying of the Mastruz leaf. Several foams were tested. The Mastruz foam was characterized by analysis of density, over run, stability and humidity. Of foaming agents tested, the Emustab® was the one that presented the best result. In the density analysis it was observed that its value decreases when the agitation time is increased; in stability and air over run analyzes it was observed that increasing in the stirring time and the concentration provide a more stable foam and a higher volume expansion, respectively. Based on the results obtained in the drying, it can be concluded that the conditions of experiment 8 (70°C, 6 min and 30%) are quite satisfactory for the foam layer drying method to take place efficiently.