Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science - An open access, peer reviewed international journal covering all aspects of Nutrition and Food Science

Drying Kinetics, Statistical and Nutritional Analysis of a Drip Lock Sheet Greenhouse Dryer for Cucumis sativus Drying

Madhankumar Seenivasan^1,2*, Velusamy Kolandasamy³, Senthilkumar Kandhampalayam Muthukrishnan⁴, Selvan Thottiapalayam Arumugam², Viswanathan Arumuthu⁵, Rajesh Suresh⁶ and Gottumukkala Santhi⁷

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India.

²Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, India.

³Department of Mechanical Engineering, Annai Mathammal Sheela Engineering College, Namakkal, India.

⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, India.

⁵Department of Mathematics, SNS College of Technology, Coimbatore, India.

⁶Department of Mechanical Engineering, R.M.K. Engineering College, Kavaraipettai, India.

⁷Department of Mathematics, SRKR Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail:sdmad95@iitg.ac.in

This research focused on drying cucumber (Cucumis sativus) through multiple techniques, including Open Sun Drying (OSD) and a Drip Lock Sheet Greenhouse Dryer (DLSGD), functioning in natural and forced airflow modes. The effectiveness of the drying processes was analyzed using drying kinetics, statistical modelling, and nutrient retention studies. Under forced airflow at a flow rate of 1.2 m/s, the DLSGD reduced Cucumis sativus moisture levels from 94% to 11.5% within 4.5 days, whereas natural airflow achieved the same result in 5.7 days. In contrast, OSD needed 8 days for equivalent moisture removal. The drying patterns were described using twelve different predictive equations. The Midilli-Kucuk equation was found to be the most accurate for DLSGD in both airflow scenarios, while the Two-term equation best represented OSD. Nutritional evaluation revealed that DLSGD with forced airflow preserved 8.4% and 2.25% more carbohydrates than OSD and DLSGD with natural airflow, respectively. Furthermore, forced airflow resulted in higher calcium retention, while natural airflow better preserved Vitamin C content. Ultimately, the research identified forced airflow in DLSGD as the most effective drying method, surpassing others in drying rate and nutrient preservation, making it a viable option for industrial use where performance and product quality are essential.

Cucumis sativus; Drying kinetics; Greenhouse dryer; Nutritional analysis; Statistical modelling

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