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oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12327/28792025-10-22T11:25:42Zcom_2072_4428com_2072_4427col_2072_487898

Innovative vs classical methods for drying heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris: Impact on protein quality and sensory properties Van De Walle, Simon Gifuni, Imma Coleman, Bert Baune, Marie-Christin Rodrigues, Alexandre Cardoso, Helena Fanari, Fabio Muylaert, Koenraad Van Royen, Geert Indústries Alimentàries Funcionalitat i Seguretat Alimentària Drying is a necessary step in the microalgae production chain to reduce microbial load and oxidative degradation of the end product. Depending on the differences in applied temperature and treatment time, the process of drying can have a substantial impact on protein quality and aroma, important characteristics determining the incorporation potential in food products. In this study, we compared the drying of heterotrophic Chorella vulgaris with both innovative (agitated thin film drying (ATFD), pulse combustion drying (PCD) and solar drying (SolD)) and commonly used drying techniques (spray drying (SprD) and freeze drying (FD)). To evaluate the impact on protein quality, we evaluated techno-functional properties, in vitro digestibility (INFOGEST) as well as protein denaturation using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A sensory analysis was performed by a trained expert panel, combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) - gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to determine volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ATFD was found to increase technofunctional properties such as gelling, water holding and solubility as well as in vitro protein digestibility. These observations could be related to induced cell disruption and protein denaturation by ATFD. Sensory analysis indicated an increased earthy off-flavor after ATFD. Interestingly, the high-temperature PCD led to an increase in cacao odor while low-temperature FD resulted in lower flavor, odors and VOCs. These results demonstrate that protein quality and sensorial properties of C. vulgaris can be steered through the type of drying, which could help in the selection of application-specific drying methods. Overall, this work could promote the incorporation of microalgal single cell proteins in different innovative food products. 2025-10-22T11:25:42Z 2025-10-22T11:25:42Z 2025-10-22T11:25:42Z 2024-02-18 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Van De Walle, Simon, Imma Gifuni, Bert Coleman, Marie-Christin Baune, Alexandre Rodrigues, Helena Cardoso and Fanari Fanari et al. 2024. “Innovative vs classical methods for drying heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris: Impact on protein quality and sensory properties”. Food Research International 182 (114142). doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114142 0963-9969 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/2879 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114142 eng Food Research International EC/H2020/862980/EU/MICROALGAE PROTEIN INGREDIENTS FOR THE FOOD AND FEED OF THE FUTURE/ProFuture http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Elsevier