Evaluation of paddy quality dried with zeolite under medium temperature

Abstract

Drying becomes important role to obtain good quality product in post-harvest treatment for paddy. Adsorption drying process taken place on medium operation temperature can be an option to enhance paddy quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of paddy dried with zeolite as adsorbent. In case, paddy from local farmer in Semarang was dried from initial moisture content 23% (wet basis) under different temperature 40 and 60°C, both with and without zeolite. Moisture content was observed by gravimetry every 15 minutes during 60 minutes drying time. Furthermore, the quality of paddy represented by percentage of head rice and proximate was analyzed after drying process completed. Results showed that compared to conventional drying without zeolite, the adsorption dryer was more superior in term of drying time as well as product quality improvement and there are no much differences in proximate analyzed result.