PROCESS AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FLAKES BY EXTRUSION, FROM RICE AND WHOLE FLOUR BANANA
banana flour, thermoplastic extrusion, banana flakes and rice.
Banana is known as one of the most consumed crops worldwide. In the 2016 the world production was 113 million tons and Brazil occupied the fourth place in this production. However, studies have reported that 40% of this national production is lost in the various stages of chain production. Part of these losses is related to the short period in which the fruit maintains its quality. Processing by thermoplastic extrusion can be part of the solution as soon as the elaboration of flakes using banana flour would reduce such losses. Thus, this technology could generate a great positive impact in all the stages of the productive chain and benefit to the producers, consumers and the agro-industry. The objective of this work is to develop products from green banana flour, with peel, associated with rice flour using thermoplastic extrusion in order to increase the economic value of the banana business in Brazil. A variety known for its resistant starch content will be used, the ‘banana da terra’ (AAB genotype) will be purchased at CEASA, RJ. It is intended to: (1) to evaluate thermoplastic extrusion parameters in the flake processing, from mixtures of green banana flours with peel and rice; (2) characterize the flakes as physical-chemical and sensorial properties.