Abstract:
Drying parameters for dryers are needed to be carefully examined not only to preserve the products but also to have a positive impact on the product qualities. The present study aimed to dry mango pulp in batch window refractance dryer (BWRD), and to evaluate the thermal performance of the dryer and the qualities of the dried mango. The performance of the dryer was tested at a water temperature of 75°C, 85°C, and 95°C and the thickness of mango pulp were maintained as 1mm, 3mm, and 5mm. 3*3 full factorial with complete randomized design (CRD) was considered for the study. The physicochemical, microbial quality and sensorial evaluation of the dried mango was performed for each treatment using standard testing procedures. Freeze dried mango sample were used for fresh mango pulp physicochemical analysis. Furthermore, thin layer drying kinetics modeling of mango pulp was studied to predict the drying kinetics. In addition, the carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic and vitamin C of mango were quantified using UV-Spectrophotometer. The result showed that drying time was increased with thickness of mango pulp to reduce the initial mango moisture (82.02%) to safe storage moisture (9. 07%). In addition, drying time required for BWRD to reach an equilibrium moisture content for 5mm (9.13 ± 0.55) was higher than that of 3mm (7.47 ± 1.09) and 1mm (5.86 ± 0.17) thickness and thus affected the overall energy efficiency of the dryer and led reduced in average of 76.82% to 18.32% and physicochemical properties of mango leather product also affected. Better retention of total carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C were showed in lower thickness 1mm and at lower temperature 75ºC and obtained 96.27%, 63.45%, 63.92% and 51.55% respectively relative to their fresh mango pulp. Microbial analysis of mango leather showed that the product exhibited the safe level for consumption after drying. The sensorial result obtained also indicated that dried samples using BWRD were in acceptable range. Drying mango pulp took long period of time in the failing rate period and from the fitted thin layer drying models Page model was found the best fitted model. 1mm at 75ºC recommended for better retained physiochemical property of mango leather and for better energy efficiency of the dryer.
Keywords: drying techniques, window refractance dryer, mango pulp, physicochemical properties, sensory quality, and microbial quality.