SECAGEM CONVECTIVA DA ACEROLA (Malphigia emarginata DC.): APLICAÇÃO DE MODELOS SEMITEÓRICOS/CONVECTIVE DRYING OF ACEROLA (Malphigia emarginata DC.): APPLICATION OF SEMITHEORETICAL MODELS

• Published in: Holos (Natal, RN) RN), 2014-01, Vol.30 (1), p.86
• Main Authors: Filho, F C Moraes, Oliveira, E L, Nóbrega, E M M A, Oliveira, J A, Correia, R T P
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• ISSN: 1518-1634; 1807-1600

Acerola is a medicinal plant originated in South America, rich in vitamin C, which exerts preventive and curative effects in cases of infectious diseases. It is estimated that 40% of acerola fruits are wasted after harvest. This fact is coupled with its high perishability and also due to their commercialization majorly made in the fresh form. This study aims to evaluate preliminarily the drying curves of the residue of acerola (Malphigia emarginata DC.) in a tray dryer. From these curves were obtained data of drying rate and velocity constant, in addition to the adjustment of experimental data with semitheoretical models. The drying curve was obtained using a tray dryer at temperatures of 60, 70 and 80°C and with drying air velocity of 4.0 and 6.0 m/s. Experimental data were fitted to the models of Lewis and Henderson and Pabis, resulting, in all cases, in a correlation coefficient (R^sup 2^) greater than 0.96. Based on the reported results, it can be concluded that, for the operating conditions used, the drying kinetics of the acerola residue occurred during constant and decreasing rate periods; kinetics was influenced by both the velocity of the drying air and the operating temperature.