Convective drying kinetics of prickly pear seeds

Abstract

THE objective of this study was to investigate the drying kinetics of prickly pear seeds. Seeds were dried using a pilot scale convective dryer. Experiments were performed at air temperature of 45 and 70°C and at two relative humidity of 15 and 35% and air velocity of 1 and 2 m/s. The experimental drying data were fitted to different theoretical models to predict the drying kinetics. According to the results obtained, it was verified that the constant drying rate period was not detected in these drying experiments. The increase in the temperature and air velocity of drying air, increases the drying rate of seeds. The statistical parameters (correlation coefficients and standard errors) show that the Verna model was found to satisfactorily describe the air-drying curves of seeds. The characteristic drying curves of seeds was determined empirically by using the corresponding curve drying equations.