Thermal kinetic degradation of anthocyanins in a roselle (<i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> L. cv. ‘Criollo’) infusion

Summary The degradation kinetics of anthocyanins in a Roselle infusion ( Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), as assessed by visible absorption spectroscopy (absorbance at 520 nm), was verified (60–100 °C). The rate constants for absorbance retention were obtained from first‐order reaction kinetic plots. Based on an Arrhenius‐type model, the experimental data showed an energy of activation of 15.83 kcal mol −1 (66.22 kJ mol −1 ) and a Q 10 value of 1.01. The obtained pattern allows to predict the retention of these antioxidant compounds as a function of temperature and time of thermal treatment.