QUALITY OF NATURAL COFFEE DRIED UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND DRYING RATES

The final quality of coffees depends on the preservation of the cell membranes of the coffee beans, which can be damaged during the drying. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the immediate and latent effects of the air temperature and drying rate on the sensorial quality of natural coffees, as well as its relationship with the chemical e physiological characteristics of the coffee beans. Mature fruits of arabica coffee were harvested and sundried to moisture content of approximately 35% (wb) and then moved into a mechanical drier under different conditions of drying. This process involved the combination of three dry bulb temperatures – DBT (35°C, 40°C, and 45°C) and two dew point temperatures – DPT (2.6°C and 16.2°C). Thus, the relative humidity of the air used for drying was a dependent variable of DTB and DPT, and as consequences, different drying rates were achieved for each DBT. The increase in the drying rate for the temperatures 35°C and 40°C has a negative effect on the final quality of natural coffee beans. However, for the temperature of 45°C, the effects of the drying rate on the coffee beans are overlaid by the thermal damages that are caused at this level of heating. Higher sensory scores for coffee are linked to lower values of electrical conductivity and potassium leaching of the exudate of the coffee beans, as well as lower values of fatty acids. It is emphasized that while the temperature of 35º C is recommended for the production of specialty coffees the temperature of 45º C is not

Cinética de secagem de café natural beneficiado com alto teor de água

The present study proposes a new processing and drying method and evaluates the behavior of grains subjected to this process through the water reduction rate and the adjustment of different mathematical models. Mature beans were divided into three batches. The first batch was continuously dried at 40±1 °C. The second batch consisted of natural coffee dried to moisture contents of 0.56±0.02, 0.41±0.02, 0,28±0.02 and 0.20±0.02 decimal (dry basis, d.b.), followed by processing and continuous drying at 35±1 ºC and 40±1 ºC. For all parcels, the drying process was ended when the coffee beans reached the moisture content level of 0.12±0.05 (d.b.). The third batch corresponded to the continuous drying of hulled and demucilated coffee at 40±1 °C. The experimental data were adjusted to ten mathematical models used to represent the drying of agricultural products. The grain water reduction rate was also evaluated. We concluded that the water reduction rate was highest for the drying temperature of 40±1 °C, especially at higher moisture contents. The total drying time for processed coffee with high moisture content was significantly reduced compared with the total drying time of natural coffee. The Midilli model satisfactorily describes the drying kinetics of processed coffee.Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, propor um novo método de processamento e secagem, assim como avaliar o comportamento dos grãos submetidos a este processo, por meio da taxa de redução de água e do ajuste de diferentes modelos matemáticos aos dados experimentais da secagem. Os frutos colhidos no estágio maduro foram divididos em três lotes. O primeiro foi seco continuamente à temperatura de 40±1 °C. O segundo consiste na secagem do café natural até os teores de água de 0,56±0,02, 0,41±0,02, 0,28±0,02 e 0,20±0,02 decimal (base seca, b.s.), seguido de beneficiamento e secagem contínua nas temperaturas de 35±1 ºC e 40±1 ºC. O terceiro lote correspondeu à secagem contínua do café descascado e desmucilado na temperatura de 40±1 °C. Em todos os lotes, a secagem foi encerrada quando os grãos atingiram o teor de água de 0,12±0,05 (b.s.). Aos dados experimentais da secagem foram ajustados dez modelos matemáticos utilizados para representação da secagem dos produtos agrícolas. Além da representação da cinética de secagem foi avaliada a taxa de redução de água dos grãos. Conclui-se que a taxa de redução de água é maior para a temperatura de secagem de 40±1 °C, especialmente para maiores teores de água. O tempo total de secagem do café beneficiado com alto teor de água é expressivamente reduzido, quando comparado ao tempo de secagem completa do café natural. O modelo de Midilli descreve satisfatoriamente a cinética de secagem do café beneficiado

Quality of second season soybean submitted to drying and storage

Drying agricultural products reduces the moisture content to suitable levels for storage, in order to maintain the product quality. However, special care with the temperatures applied in the process is important for the integrity and longevity of the material. The present study aimed at determining the immediate and latent effect of air-drying temperatures on the quality of soybean produced as a second season crop. The grains were collected at the R8 stage, close to the physiological maturity, with moisture content of approximately 23 % (w.b.), submitted to drying temperatures of 40 ºC, 50 ºC, 60 ºC, 70 ºC and 80 ºC, up to a moisture content of 12.5 ± 0.7 % (w.b.), and then stored under non-controlled humidity and temperature for 180 days. Thereafter, quality was assessed every 45 days by determining the dry matter loss, color and crude protein and lipid contents, as well as the acidity and peroxide indices of the crude oil extracted. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the increase in the air-drying temperature affects the soybean quality and crude oil extracted, being this effect enhanced with the storage time; the soybean and crude oil quality decline with an increase in the air-drying temperature and storage time; the air temperature of 40 ºC has the least effect on the quality of soybean grains and crude oil extracted

Cinética de secagem de café natural para diferentes temperaturas e baixa umidade relativa

In face of the importance of drying in the post-harvest phase of coffee and its effect on the final quality of the product, the aim of the present study was to evaluate drying kinetics at different temperatures of the drying air for a low dew point temperature of the fruits of dry processed Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.). The fruits were manually picked and subjected to hydraulic separation. After that, fruits with initial moisture contents of 1.9 ± 0.1 kg.kg-1 (db) were submitted to the drying processunder three dry bulb temperatures (35°C, 40°C e 45°C) for the same dew point temperature (2.6°C) of the drying air. Seven mathematical models were fitted to the experimental data to characterize the drying process of the coffee fruit. The modified Henderson and Pabis and Successive Residue models with two terms were the most adequate for describing the dry process, with the modified Henderson and Pabis model being chosen through its greater simplicity. The increase of the dry bulb temperature under a low dew point temperature leads to an increase in the effective diffusivity coefficient and in the drying rate and a decrease in drying time. For the conditions studied, the effective diffusivity coefficient of water for coffee fruits ranges from 1.908 to 3.721x 10-11 m².s-1. Activating energy for liquid diffusion, described by the Arrhenius equation, was 52.89 kJ.mol-1.Diante da importância da secagem na fase da pós-colheita do café e seu reflexo na qualidade final do produto, objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a cinética da secagem em diferentes temperaturas do ar de secagem, para uma baixa temperatura de ponto de orvalho de frutos de café arábica (Coffea arabica L.), processados via seca. Os frutos foram colhidos manualmente e submetidos à separação hidráulica. Para a secagem dos frutos, com teor de água inicial de 1,9 ± 0,1 kg.kg-1 (bs),utilizou-se secador mecânico a três temperaturas de bulbo seco (35 °C, 40 °C e 45 °C) para a mesma temperatura de ponto de orvalho (2,6 °C) do ar de secagem. Sete modelos matemáticos foram ajustados aos dados experimentais para caracterizar o processo de secagem dos frutos do cafeeiro. Os modelos de Henderson e Pabis modificado e de Resíduos Sucessivos com dois termo, foram os mais adequados para descrever o processo de secagem, sendo escolhido o de Henderson e Pabis modificado, pela maior simplicidade. A elevação da temperatura de bulbo seco, sob baixa temperatura de ponto de orvalho, provoca aumento no coeficiente de difusividade efetivo, na taxa de secagem e redução no tempo de secagem. Para as condições estudadas, o coeficiente de difusividade efetivo de água para os frutos do cafeeiro varia entre 1,908 e 3,721 x 10-11 m².s-1. A energia de ativação para a difusão líquida, descrita pela equação de Arrhenius, foi de 52,89 kJ.mol-1

Ajuste de modelos matemáticos a contração volumétrica unitária e da massa dos grãos de soja

O índice de contração volumétrica pode variar entre os produtos agrícolas. Normalmente, grãos como os de soja, que apresentam estruturas morfológicas simples e teor de água reduzido, apresentam baixos índices de contração no momento da secagem. No entanto, a sua quantificação e determinação podem contribuir para otimizar o processo de secagem. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o ajuste de diferentes modelos matemáticos, identificando o que melhor representa o fenômeno da contração volumétrica unitária e da massa dos grãos de soja submetidos à secagem em duas temperaturas. Foram utilizados grãos de soja (Glycine Max L.), cultivar M7211RR, com teor de água inicial de 0,31 (base seca, b.s.). Os grãos foram submetidos à secagem em estufa de circulação de ar forçada, nas temperaturas de 50 e 90 ± 1 °C até o teor de água de aproximadamente 0,13 (b.s.), determinando-se os teores de água do produto pelo método da estufa a 105 ± 1 oC. Acompanharam-se os teores de água por meio da perda de massa. Para cada teor de água pré-estabelecido, determinou-se o volume dos grãos por meio das medidas dos eixos ortogonais. Dentre os modelos analisados por meio do coeficiente de determinação, qui-quadrado, erro médio relativo e erro médio estimado, o modelo linear foi selecionado para descrição do fenômeno em questão devido a sua menor complexidade comparado aos demais. O modelo linear é capaz de descrever com eficácia a contração volumétrica unitária e da massa dos grãos de soja nas temperaturas de 50 e 90 ºC

Desorption isotherms and isosteric heat of niger grains (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.)

Niger seed oil has excellent quality and quantity (30-50%) and is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid (about 70%). Thus, control of environmental temperature and relative humidity, and of seed moisture content is essential to maintain seed oil quality during storage. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the desorption isotherms of niger seeds under different temperature and water activity conditions, to test the experimental data with different mathematical models, and discover which best represents the phenomenon, as well as calculate the isosteric heat value for the product. Hygroscopicity was determined by the static gravimetric method, at temperatures of 30, 35 and 40 ºC, and water activity between 0.07 and 0.79 (decimal). For the experimental data, mathematical models commonly used to test hygroscopicity in agricultural products were evaluated. From the results obtained, it was concluded that: water activity increases as moisture content rises; based on the statistical parameters, the models of Chung and Pfost, modified Henderson, Oswin, Sabbah, Sigma Copace, Halsey, Smith and Copace appropriatrely represented the desorption phenomenon of niger seeds; total isosteric desorption heat increased with reduction of moisture content, with values varying from 2539.62 to 3081.48 kJ kg-1, within the range of equilibrium moisture content of 2.4 to 12.2 (% dry basis)

Performance of industrial drying and soybean grains quality

Abstract Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of industrial drying and the quality of soybean grains using a direct-fire furnace automatically fed by wood chips. To represent the grains before drying, four samples were collected together with the sampling of the loads in the trucks carried out to classify the product in the storage unit. At drying, performance evaluations and specific energy consumption were carried out. The grains were evaluated for moisture content, germination, electrical conductivity, apparent specific mass, color, acidity index, and PAHs. Drying showed an average efficiency of 75.50%. The average chip consumption was 0.4403 kg of chip/kg of evaporated water. The specific energy consumption was 8,099.50 kJ/kg of evaporated water. The grains showed differences after drying in the characteristics of germination, electrical conductivity, and chroma. Six PAHs were detected in the samples before drying: (B(a)A, Chr, 5 MC, B(j)F, Dib(ai)P, and IcdP). After drying, in addition to the PAHs obtained before drying, five more were detected (B(b)F, B(k)F, B(a)P, Dib(al)P, and Dib(ah)A). Mean PAH concentrations were higher than the maximum values allowed by European Union legislation

Determination of the volumetric shrinkage in jatropha seeds during drying

The objective of this study was to determine the geometric diameter of volumetric shrinkage in Jatropha seeds subjected to drying under six air conditions and to fit different mathematical models to the experimental values. Seeds with an approximate initial moisture content of 0.61 kgw kgdm-1 (kilogram of water per kilogram of dry matter) were dried in a convection oven at temperatures of 36, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 105°C until they reached a moisture content of 0.11 ± 0.006 kgw kgdm-1. The experimental data were fitted to five mathematical models used to represent volumetric shrinkage in agricultural products. The models were analyzed using the coefficient of determination, chi-square, mean relative error, mean estimated error, and residual distribution. Geometric diameter data were subjected to regression analysis by adopting a 1% level of significance. It was concluded that moisture content and drying temperature influence volumetric shrinkage in Jatropha seeds, a phenomenon satisfactorily described by the Polynomial equation, where the geometric diameter linearly decreased with a reduction of the moisture content, regardless of the drying conditions