Mechanistic modeling to address process analysis: Kibbles of carob (Ceratonia siliqua, L.) pod extraction

The daily challenge involved in operating a process is the attainment of the objectives. Process management requires the use of tools adapted to the system's complexity. In order to obtain real time results, simplified mechanistic modeling offers a way to deal with this. To this end, carob pod (Ceratonia siliqua, L.) kibbles extraction is addressed in this work. They are a source of different, valuable components and have a complex structure and a highly variable concentration of components. The components considered are sugars and soluble polyphenols. Obtaining the extracts with an optimal composition of a particular component, while avoiding or limiting other components in the extract, is a challenge to be addressed. Two steps can be considered: solubilization and diffusion, modeled by means of a first order reaction and by considering slab geometry. The optimal processing time and temperature are obtained by taking a particular kibble size and composition into account.