The drying of amaranth grain: mathematical modeling and simulation

A model for isothermal diffusion of bound water was used to simulate the thin-layer drying kinetics of amaranth grain. The model assumes that the driving force for the transport of bound water is the gradient of spreading pressure. The gradient of spreading pressure was related to the moisture gradient using the GAB isotherm. This variation shows a relative maximum moisture content about 8% (d.b), after which the diffusion coefficient falls sharply as the moisture content is further reduced. To verify the model, drying tests of amaranth grain were conducted at 40 to 70ºC in a laboratory drier from 32.5 to 6% moisture (d.b.). Equilibrium moisture contents were also determined using an electronic hygrometer at temperatures and relative humidities corresponding to drying conditions. The applicability of the model to simulation of drying curves was satisfactory in the full range of moisture

Freezing influences diffusion of reducing sugars in carrot cortex

The loss of reducing sugars from raw and previously frozen carrot cortex tissue immersed in warm water was studied as a function of temperature (40–100°C). Leaching was described as a diffusional mechanism by application of Fick's 2nd law. This approach successfully modeled losses from raw carrots at temperatures higher than 60°C. At low temperatures diffusion was much slower, due to a high resistence of the tissues to mass transfer, and Fick's 2nd law could not be applied. Previously frozen carrots showed a Fickian behaviour through the range of temperatures and diffusivities were much higher. Dependence of diffusivity on temperature followed an Arrhenius type equation for the two cases. However, the activation energy of pre-frozen carrots was lower, indicating loss of sensitivity to temperature variations.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio