Quality and Shelf Life of White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Processed with High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide (HPCD) at Subcritical and Supercritical States

Phase changes of carbon dioxide (supercritical or subcritical) depend on its proximity to a pressure of 7.35 MPa and temperature of 31.1°C. Carbon dioxide becomes supercritical and subcritical when it is above and slightly below its critical point, respectively. This study aims to determine the effect of high-pressure CO2 treatments at a pressure of 900 psi, 950 psi (subcritical), and 1100 psi (supercritical) and at holding times of 5, 10, and 15 min on the quality parameters of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and to determine the shelf life of white shrimp processed with the best treatment. The results showed that the interaction between pressure and holding time had a significant p < 0.05 effect on cholesterol, protein, moisture content, and b ∗ value, but pressure had a significant effect on carotene content. The best treatment was a supercritical CO2 treatment at 1100 psi for 10 min, which was determined based on a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms and no significant changes in color, texture, and fat content were observed compared with control. The best treatment was applied to process shrimps, which were then stored at 4°C to evaluate the effectiveness of scCO2 treatment on the shelf life. No significant changes were found in PV and lipid in treated and scCO2-treated shrimps during storage, but the treatment significantly affected pH, TVBN, and microbial counts. Among the samples, there was no hedonic difference in all sensory attributes. Supercritical CO2 treatment at 1100 psi for 10 min can be an alternative method for preservation of shrimps.