This study was conducted to determine the acetic-acid fermentation properties of apple juice (initial alcohol content, apple juice concentration, acetic-acid content, and inoculum size) in flask scale. At the acetic-acid fermentation of apple juice with 3, 5, 7, and 9% initial alcohol content, the maximum acidity after 10-day fermentation was 5.88% when the initial alcohol content was 5%. The acetic-acid fermentation did not proceed normally when the initial alcohol content was 9%. When the initial Brix was 1°, the acidity gradually increased, and the acidity after 12-day acetic-acid fermentation was 4.48%. Above 4% acidity was attained faster when the apple juice concentration was 5 and 10 ˚Brix than when it was 1 and 14 ˚Brix. When the initial acidity was 1% or above (0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%), the acetic-acid fermentation proceeded normally. The acetic-acid fermentation also proceeded normally when the inoculum sizes were 10 and 15%, and the acidity after eight-day acetic-acid fermentation was 5.60 and 6.05%, respectively. Therefore, the following were considered the optimal acetic-acid fermentation conditions for apple cider vinegar: 5% initial alcohol content, 5 ˚Brix or above apple juice concentration, 1.0% or above initial acidity, and 10% or above inoculum size. Apple cider vinegar with above 5% acidity can be produced within 48 h under the following acetic-acid fermentation conditions: 7% initial alcohol content, about 1% initial acidity, and 10% inoculum volume at 30℃, 30 rpm, and 1.0 vvm, using 14 ˚Brix apple juice in a mini-jar fermentor as a pre-step for industrial-scale adaptation.

The alcohol fermentation of apple juice was optimized as a preliminary study for the production of natural apple cider vinegar. To gain an optimal fermentation yield, a central composite design was used to investigate the effects of the independent variables [initial Brix (12/14/16/18/20, X1), fermentation time(48/54/60/66/72h, X2), and fermentation temperature(24/26/28/30/32℃, X3)] on the dependent variables (alcohol content, reducing sugar, Brix, acidity). The alcohol content was 3.4-6.4%, the reducing sugar was 1.93-6.24%, and the Brix was 6.1-13.8°. The alcohol content was mainly affected by the fermentation temperature and increased along with the fermentation time and temperature. The amount of the reducing sugar was significantly affected by the initial Brix and fermentation temperature. The optimal conditions for the alcohol content were found to be 15.22 initial Brix, 64.97 h fermentation time, and 31.56℃ temperature.

Quality characteristics of Shiitake mushroom using two types of dryers, energy-efficient heat pump hotair dryer and electric heater hot-air dryer were compared. Energy consumed during drying by heat pump hot-air dryer and electric heater hot-air dryer were 22.8 kWh and 28.9 kWh, respectively. Total polyphenol content of heat pump hot-air dryer and electric heater hot-air dryer after drying were 290.55±10.56 ppm and 192.99±6.53 ppm, respectively. No differences were observed between dryers in reconstitution rate and browning ratio after drying. Also, there were no differences between dryers in color value and ΔE value after drying. Shiitake mushroom drying at 45 o C by heat pump hot-air dryer was proved to be more efficient in energy consumption than by electric heater hot-air dryer.