Changes in microorganism, enzyme, aroma of hami melon (Cucumis melo L.) juice treated with dense phase carbon dioxide and stored at 4 °C

The effects of dense phase carbon dioxide (DP-CO2) treatment of 8, 15, 22, 30 and 35 MPa for 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min at 35 °C, 45 °C, 55 °C, 65 °C on microorganism, enzyme, and aroma compounds in hami melon juice during storage at 4 °C for 4-weeks were investigated. Meanwhile, the color, browning degree, and Vitamin C were also studied. The DP-CO2 treatment had significant effects on inactivation of microorganism and enzyme. It was indicated that higher pressure caused more inactivation of microbial total count and enzyme activity. When it reached 35 Mpa, 55 °C, 60 min, the microorganism was totally inactivated. The least residual activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and lipoxygenase (LOX) was 25.26%, 38.46 and 0.02% at 35MP, respectively. The restoration of PPO, POD and LOX residual activity after DP-CO2 treatment was also observed, which was dependent on the pressure level. The aroma compounds were less affected after being treated with DP-CO2, and the flavor of the melon juice was close to the fresh juice after storage at 4 °C for 4 weeks and did not produced cook off-odor. The changes of lightness L and browning degree A during storage were well fitted to a first-order kinetic model. The Vitamin C concentration decreased by DP-CO2 processing, but this loss was lower than of the untreated sample.Industrial relevanceHami melon is highly appreciated for its nutritional quality and special flavor. The flesh of melon is heat sensitive, the sensitive nutrients, color and aromatic profile will be spoiled greatly or off-odour when it was produced with high temperature treatment. Dense phase carbon dioxide processing (DP-CO2) is important to find an innovative food process to inactivate the enzyme and microorganism and protect the nutrient and unique flavor. In this study, the data proved that DP-CO2 processing is a promising non-thermal alternative pasteurization to preserved fresh-squeezed melon juice.