Determining of moisture diffusivity and activation energy in drying of apricots

Abstract

In this study, Fick's second law was used as a major equation to calculate the moisture diffusivity for apricot fruit with some simplification. Drying experiments were carried out at the air temperatures of 40, 50, 60,70, and 80°C and the drying air velocity of 1,1.5 and 2 m/s. The experimental drying curves showed only a falling drying rate period. The calculated value of the moisture diffusivity varied from 1.7 × 10-10 to 1.15 × 10-9 m2/s for apricot fruit, and the value of activation energy ranged from 29.35 to 33.78 kj/mol at different velocities of air.