PHYSICAL AND TRANSPORT-PROPERTIES OF PEAS DURING WARM AIR-DRYING

Warm air drying of peas was studied to assess the effect of drying conditions on some relevant physical properties of the product. Experimental drying data was well correlated by a previously described model where an implicit variation of moisture diffusivity during the dehydration is considered Using that model, the experimental data could be reproduced within 61%. Drying conditions have influenced shrinkage of the product, as expressed by apparent density, and moisture diffusivity but not sorption isotherm. Variation of moisture diffusivity during the process was calculated using the method of slopes. The results were shown to be consistent with assumptions included in the drying model considered.