High‐Pressure Processing of Orange Juice: Kinetics of Pectinmethylesterase Inactivation

A kinetic study of pectinmethylesterase (PME) inactivation in orange juice was conducted. Juice samples were subjected to combinations of high pressure (400, 500, 600 MPa) and thermal (25, 37.5, 50 °C) treatments for various time periods. PME inactivation followed a first‐order kinetic model with a residual activity of pressure‐resistant enzyme remaining. Calculated D‐values ranged from 4.6 min to 117.5 min at 600 MPa/50 °C and 400 MPa/25 °C, respectively. Pressures in excess of 500 MPa resulted in sufficiently fast inactivation rates for economic viability of the process.