Heat Pump Drying of Nutmeg Pericarp: Engineering Properties, Drying Kinetics, and Haghi-Angiz-II Modelling for Process Optimisation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the engineering properties of nutmeg pericarp and develops a mathematical model to describe its drying behavior in a heat pump dryer. Nutmeg pericarp, an underutilized part of the nutmeg fruit, is a rich source of phytochemicals but is highly perishable, necessitating immediate postharvest drying for further processing. Drying experiments were conducted at a controlled temperature of 55°C and a relative humidity of 37%. Regression modeling was used to analyze the drying kinetics, utilizing MATLAB R2020a and R Studio software. Various statistical metrics, including the coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R², and root mean square error (RMSE), were evaluated to determine the predictive accuracy of different thin-layer drying models. Among the models assessed, the Haghi and Angiz-II model best fit the experimental data, achieving the highest R² value of 0.999. A scatter plot comparing the experimental and predicted moisture ratios further confirmed the reliability of this model. The effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 2.1 × 10⁻⁸ to 9.08 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s. Additionally, the quality assessment indicates that heat pump drying positively influences the key quality attributes of nutmeg pericarp.
Authors: Noorbina Razak, M. Varghese Prince, Vaisakh Venu, Ann Annie Shaju, G. K. Rajesh, R. Sreeja, Lilia Baby
Institution: Kerala Agricultural University
Language: English
Topic: Food Drying and Modeling
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408777789