Industrial potential of Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) in powder: antioxidant activity, spectroscopic and morphological behavior

Abstract The objective of this research was to analyze the industrial potential of a bacaba powder (Oenocarpus bacaba) obtained by different drying methods, evaluating antioxidant activity, spectroscopic and morphological behavior and addition to the composition of inorganic elements. The content of anthocyanins, flavonoids and carotenoids of each powder were determined as well as the total phenolic compounds. The structure of the granules of the powder were visualized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the elemental composition was attained by the X-ray spectroscopic energy dispersive system (EDS). The data suggest that the freeze-drying method is more efficient in obtaining the bacaba powder material. The increase in temperature applied in the convection drying process caused a reduction in the bioactive compound content and elements with antioxidant activity, it severely damaged the morphology of the plant membrane and influenced the composition of the spectral bands. Thus, this study indicates that the freezer-drying method could be particularly useful for obtaining bacaba powder in off-season periods, and that bacaba itself is a raw material that could be exploited by several industrial segments.