The purpose of this paper was to study the kinetics of calcium uptake of blanched and not blanched apple tissue during impregnation treatments under vacuum or/and at atmospheric pressure. The relative absorption of calcium in rats, regarding calcium carbonate as reference substance, was also analyzed as a first approach. Apple impregnation is conducted (with and without previous blanching in saturated vapor) in isotonic glucose aqueous solutions containing calcium gluconate and lactate. A 50 mm Hg vacuum pressure is applied for a time t1 (0—180 min) or atmospheric pressure is used for a process time t2 (0—7.5 h). Calcium uptake by apple tissue is influenced by system pressure, blanching, and impregnation time, reaching 500—4600 μg Ca/g according to process variables. Preliminary data of true calcium absorption ranges between 74 and 86% regarding calcium carbonate.
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