MODEL OF CONVECTIVE DRYING OF BLACK CHOKEBERRY (ARONIA MELANOCARPA L.)

Abstract

Drying kinetics of fresh uncrushed chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa L.) was analyzed by the convective method at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 °C. The experimental results were fitted using eight models for the moisture ratio (MR), and four models for dehydration ratio (drying speed, DR). The modified Page and the Logarithmic equation were successfully used to describe the MR, as well as the Polynomial and modified Gauss equation, for the DR. According to the efficiency of the convective drying (cost price, energy efficiency,constants of drying models), the recommended method of convective drying is the drying at 70 °C (the shortest dehydration time and the fastest dehydration speed).