DRYING OF ASPARAGUS ROOTS IN SOLAR AND FLUIDISED BED DRYER

DEEPIKA KOHLI¹*, N.C. SHAHI², J.P. PANDEY³, ANUPAMA SINGH^4
1Department of Food Technology, Uttaranchal University, Uttarakhand, 248001, India
²Department of Post Harvest Process and Food Engineering, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145 India
³Department of Post Harvest Process and Food Engineering, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145 India
⁴Department of Post Harvest Process and Food Engineering, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145 India
* Corresponding Author : deepikaprp27@gmail.com

Received : 18-07-2016     Accepted : 09-03-2017     Published : 18-03-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 13       Pages : 4072 - 4076
Int J Agr Sci 9.13 (2017):4072-4076

Keywords : Drying, Asparagus Racemosus, Solar Dryer, Fluidized Bed Dryer, Colour
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : This research work was technically supported by the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Author Contribution : Deepika Kohli participated in the experiments and data analysis, and also contributed to the writing of the manuscript. N.C. Shahi designed the research plan, organized the study, participated in experiments and coordinated the data analysis. J.P. Pandey

This study presents the drying kinetics of asparagus using solar dryer and fluidized bed dryer at four temperature levels of 40, 50, 60 and 700C. The drying rate was always higher in case of fluidized bed dryer as compare to solar dryer and it was increased with increase in temperature. The maximum drying rate 5.953% d.b./min was observed in fluidized bed dryer at 70oC in the first 60 min. Three thin layer drying models were fitted to the experimental data of asparagus. The best model to predict the moisture content of asparagus in thin layer was found to be Page equation. Color of asparagus was slightly changed after drying. The power consumption was found lower for fluidized bed dryer as as compare to solar dryer. The rehydration ratio was maximum of 5.745 for fluidized bed dryer at 600C and dehydration ratio was maximum 7.092 for solar dryer at 700C.

1. Bopana N. and Saxena S. (2007) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 110, 1–15.
2. An J. Zhang M., Wang S. and Tang J. (2008) Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und –Technologie, 41, 1100–1107.
3. Albanese D., Russo L., Cinquanta L., Brasiello A. and Di Matteo M. (2007) Food Chemistry, 101, 274–280.
4. Krokida M.K.and Marinos-Kouris D. (2003) Journal of Food Engineering, 57, 1–7.
5. Martinov M., Oztekin S.and Müller J. (2007) Haworth Food & Agricultural Products Press, Binghamton, 85–129.
6. Tan C. T. and Francis F. J. (1962) Journal of Food Technology, 27(3), 232-241.
7. Ahmed J., Shivhare U. S. and Singh G. (2001) Food Science and Technology, 79, 103-106.
8. Park, K. J., Z. Vohnikova and F.P.R. Brod. (2002) Journal of Food Engineering, 51(3), 193-199.
9. Henderson S. M. and Pabis S. (1961) Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 13(2), 87-95.
10. Pawar V.N., Singh N. I., Dev D.K., Kulkarni D.N. and Ingle U. M. (1988) Indian food packer, 15-28.
11. Sagar V. R. (2001) Journal of Food Science and Technology, 38(5), 525-528.
12. Velic D., Planinic M., Tomas S. and Bilic M. (2004) Journal of Food Engineering, 64, 97–102.
13. Bala B. K., Hoque M. A., Hossain M. A. and Uddin M. B. (2010) Drying Technology: An International Journal, 28(4), 533-541.
14. Janjai S. and Tang P. (2005) Renewable Energy, 30(14), 2085-2095.
15. Janjai S., Precoppe M., Lamlert N., Mahayothee B., Bala B.K., Nagle M. and Müller J. (2011) Food and Bioproducts Processing, 89(3), 194–201.
16. Koyuncu T., Tosun I. and Ustun N. S. (2003) Drying Technology: An International Journal, 21(7), 1369 -1381.
17. Lau M.H., Tang J. and Swanson B.G. (2000) Journal of Food Engineering, 45, 231–236.
18. Mitra J., Shrivastava S.L. and Rao, P.S. (2011) Czech J. Food Sci, 29(6), 586–594.
19. Murthy Z.V.P. and Joshi D. (2007) Drying Technology: An International Journal, 25(5), 883-889.
20. Nindo C.I., Sun T., Wang S.W., Tanga J. and Powers J.R. (2003) Lebensmitel-Wissenschaft und –Technologie, 36, 507–516.
21. Premavalli K. S., Mazumdar T. K. and Madhura C. V. (2001) Journal of Food Science and Technology, 38, 79-81.