The mass transfer models generally used to study the OD in ternary
solutions deal with simplified equations that are unable to explain
the mechanisms occurring in the tissues very well. These
models assume that the convective term in the transport equation
is zero, and that the diffusion coefficient and densities in the system
remain constant throughout the time and distance. In addition,
these models neglect the concentration profiles and
consequently the functionality of the diffusion coefficient is not detected
(Mauro and Menegalli, 2003). Plant tissue is constituted of a
highly complex physical structure that is only one part of the complexity
of the process occurring during the osmotic dehydration of
fruits and vegetables. All the cell content found inside the cell wall
generally known as the protoplast is rounded by the plasmalemma,
a semipermeable membrane that permits solvents to pass through
it, while solutes are limited to restricted passage. Apart from the
transfer process of the different cell components, many other