Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules.

Description

/ 4 Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules. Field of invention

[001] The present invention relates to a process for obtaining coconut pulp millicapsules, produced by means of an ionic gelation process, so that they can be applied to foods such as still and sparkling coconut water. The millicapsules can be consumed with other foods or even in their pure form. The produced millicapsules were incorporated into still and sparkling coconut water. Fundamentals of the invention

[002] Functional beverages are gaining prominence due to their greater versatility, ease of consumption, stability, and storage, as they can be refrigerated, further extending their shelf life. These products can add other nutrients that were not originally part of the food, or even utilize parts of the food that would otherwise be discarded by the industry (COSTA et al., 2021; NAZIR et al., 2019).

[003] Coconut water can be considered a byproduct in the coconut processing industry for the purpose of consuming minimally processed or dehydrated coconut, just as coconut pulp can be a byproduct when the goal of processing is coconut water. However, both can be well utilized and add value and nutritional content in the production of products using both as ingredients, increasing shelf life through new preservation technologies and consumer market interest (COSTA et al., 2021; PRADES et al., 2012a).

[004] Recent studies demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate different food matrices into beverages and foods, adding even more nutritional value to the product, making consumption more pleasant, nutritious, practical and attractive, such as juices, yogurts, coconut water, sparkling water among others (COSTA et al., 2021; NAZIR et al., 2019; SANTANA et al., 2020; SANTOS et al., 2017 YOUSEF NAMIA et al., 2020). Petition 870240108811, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 7 / 21 / 4

[005] Coconut water is a functional natural beverage widely consumed throughout the world. It is characterized by its nutritional content, including antioxidant nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and sugars, and has a sweetness that enhances its pleasant taste. It is ideal for the development of new products to meet consumer needs (COSTA et al., 2021; MAT et al., 2022). However, to date, microcapsules of coconut pulp have never been studied in carbonated coconut water.

[006] It is desired that carbonated coconut water with coconut pulp millicapsules possess health benefits related to the ingestion of its ingredients, which should be able to provide a pleasant taste, refreshment, and a new option for hydration with carbonation that, in addition to innovating the product, contributes to its preservation. In view of the above, the present study fills a scientific gap in the area of ​​nutrition and biotechnology.

[007] The present invention relates in particular to carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp, a product with a pleasant and refreshing taste and significant nutritional content.

[008] The invention BR1020140163727 entitled “Papaya Drops (Carira papaya L.), dated July 16, 2014, refers to the product papaya drops, obtained by the ionic gelation process of papaya pulp, which differs from that proposed in this document which uses coconut pulp.

[009] The invention BR1020140246282 entitled “Fortified beverage with fruit pulp microcapsule” dated September 12, 2014, refers to the product fortified beverage with fruit pulp microcapsule, obtained by the ionic gelation process of fruit pulp, which differs from that proposed in this document which uses coconut water as a beverage and coconut pulp microcapsules to enrich the coconut water with or without carbonation.

[010] The invention BR10202002263 entitled “Fortified beverage with fruit pulp microcapsules and probiotics” dated November 6, 2020, refers to the product “Fortified beverage with fruit pulp microcapsules and prebiotics”, obtained by the ionic gelation process of fruit pulp, which differs from that proposed in this document which Petition 870240108811, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 8 / 21 / 4 uses coconut water as a beverage and coconut pulp millicapsules to enrich coconut water with or without carbonation.

[0011] The invention in question differs from other patents and / or patent applications available to date due to its innovative nature in developing coconut pulp millicapsules obtained by ionic gelation to enrich coconut water with or without carbonation. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 presents the flowchart for processing and obtaining coconut water, carbonated or not, and enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules. Figure 2 illustrates the extraction of coconut water. Figure 3 shows the process of obtaining coconut pulp millicapsules using the ionic gelation technique. Figure 4 shows the millicapsules of coconut pulp. Figure 5 shows the product obtained. Description of the invention

[012] To produce the product, it was necessary to extract the coconut water from healthy and sanitized fruits and follow the processing steps as described by Cabral (2005).

[013] The coconuts were received, selected according to the absence of lesions and diseases, as well as the standard of maturation, and were washed and sanitized. The coconut water was extracted by opening the pedicel of the fruit or "eye of the coconut", with the aid of a drill / perforator knife, both made of stainless steel. After opening the coconut, filtration was carried out using sieves and voile fabric, to retain fragments of the coconut shell itself.

[014] Filtered coconut water was collected in previously sanitized and sterilized 3L glass bottles and immersed in an ice bath for pre-cooling. Cooling was carried out in the shortest possible time to preserve the product. Storage was done in a refrigerated display case at 5°C and the product's shelf life was observed. Petition 870240108811, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 9 / 21 / 4

[015] To obtain coconut pulp millicapsules using the ionic gelation technique, the coconut was depulped. The coconut pulp was crushed and homogenized in coconut water (A) and sodium alginate using a mixer (Philco, Model 700 / 700 Watts®), (B), obtaining the coconut pulp extract (30g coconut pulp, 1g alginate and 100mL coconut water). This extract was then inserted into the microencapsulator, which, by gravity, was dripped into a 2% calcium chloride solution. The resulting millicapsules were removed from the solution using sieves for drainage and immersed in a container with coconut water to remove any residue of the calcium chloride solution, then subjected to another drainage.

[016] Coconut water was carbonated using a domestic carbonator and subsequently bottled in polypropylene bottles. Depending on the sample, the bottles could contain or not contain millicapsules: coconut water enriched with 8.4g millicapsules (ACM); carbonated coconut water (ACG); carbonated coconut water enriched with 8.4g millicapsules (ACGM). The product was sealed and stored at 5 ± 1 °C in display cases for 7 days. The solubility of carbon dioxide in the carbonated coconut water was 3.82 g / L. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[017] In the quantification of the mineral content of the coconut pulp millicapsule, percentages similar to those of fresh coconut pulp were found. The coconut pulp millicapsule added nutrients not found or present in smaller quantities in coconut water, such as protein, lipid, calcium, and potassium.

[018] Enriching coconut water with coconut pulp millicapsules has added more flavor, aroma and nutritional properties, making it an innovative product. Petition 870240108811, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 10 / 21

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. CARBONATED COCONUT WATER ENRICHED WITH COCONUT PULP MILLICAPSULES characterized by the ionic gelation process using the dripping technique and hydrocolloid solutions for the production of coconut pulp millicapsules used to enrich carbonated coconut water.

2. Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules according to claim 1, characterized by the production process according to the following steps: obtaining coconut pulp millicapsules; production of carbonated coconut water fortified with coconut pulp millicapsules.

3. Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules according to claim 2, characterized by the process of obtaining coconut pulp millicapsules, according to the following steps: obtaining the coconut, selection, pre-washing, sanitization, obtaining the coconut pulp, preparing the coconut pulp extract, preparing the mixture (coconut pulp extract and alginate), preparing the calcium chloride solution, obtaining the coconut pulp millicapsules, removing excess calcium chloride, draining the millicapsules, sterilizing the millicapsules.

4. Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules according to claim 3, characterized by the process of preparing the mixture used in ionic gelation, formulated with coconut pulp extract at a concentration of 35% w / w in coconut water, containing a hydrocolloid mixture at a concentration preferably of 1.0% w / w.

5. Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp millicapsules according to claim 3, characterized by the preparation of solution II used in ionic gelation, being composed of calcium chloride at a concentration of 2% w / w in coconut water.

6. CARBONATED COCONUT WATER ENRICHED WITH COCONUT PULP MILLICAPSULES according to claim 2, characterized by the production process of carbonated coconut water fortified with coconut pulp millicapsules, according to the following steps: obtaining the coconut, selection, cleaning and sanitizing, extraction of coconut water and pulp, dilution of the pulp in the coconut water, filtration of the coconut water, bottling, carbonation, cooling and storage.

7. CARBONATED COCONUT WATER ENRICHED WITH COCONUT PULP MILLICAPSULES according to claim 6, characterized by the formulation of carbonated coconut water with coconut pulp millicapsules, the proportions for obtaining carbonated coconut water: 200 mL of coconut water, 8.4% coconut pulp millicapsules, 3.82 (gL) of carbon dioxide (CO2).

8. Carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp microcapsules according to claim 6, characterized by the formulation of the carbonated coconut water enriched with coconut pulp microcapsules, the proportions of coconut pulp millicapsules added to the coconut water being 8.4% w / w. Petition 870240108811, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 12 / 21

Images