Optimization of sonication for preserving the biochemical and physicochemical attributes of pomegranate arils during storage.

Pomegranate arils rapidly experience quality deterioration and a decline in bioactive compounds during storage. This study aimed to develop and optimize an effective non-thermal technology by evaluating the efficacy of ultrasound treatment in preserving the biochemical and physicochemical attributes of pomegranate arils using response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of ultrasound time (4-14 min) and storage duration (0-16 days) on key quality indicators, including total phenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AOA), total anthocyanin content (TAC), titratable acidity (TA), and weight loss (WL), were assessed. Results indicated that controlled increases in ultrasound exposure helped maintain bioactive compounds, whereas quality loss was primarily dependent on storage duration. The optimal conditions were determined as 12.3 min of ultrasound and 7.1 days of storage, under which AOA of 71.58%, TA of 2.3%, TAC of 155.16 mg 100 g-1, and TPC of 133.82 mg 100 g-1 were predicted, along with minimal WL of 1.32%. Experimental validation confirmed the accuracy of the model and demonstrated that ultrasound can effectively mitigate quality decline in pomegranate arils. The findings suggest that this non-thermal technology provides a sustainable and practical approach for postharvest quality management and the development of advanced storage systems, particularly within cold chains for sensitive products.