lnðC=C0Þ ¼ kt ð1Þ
where C0 = initial concentration of beta-carotene (lg/g)
or measured Hunter color value (L, a, b) or a combination
of these at time zero (dimensionless); C = concentration
of beta-carotene (lg/g) or measured Hunter
color value (L, a, b) or a combination of these at time
t (dimensionless); k = temperature dependent rate constant
(min1); t = heating time (min).
For a reaction following a first-order kinetic model,
the plot of ln(C/C0) vs time would be a straight line
and the slope would be equal to k at a constant
temperature.
Dependence of the degradation rate constant on temperature
can be represented by the Arrhenius equation