Effect of Microwave Treatment on Dehulling of Pigeon Pea

摘要

Dehulling of pulses is an energy intensive operation, also associated with significant product losses. In the present study, microwave energy was examined as an alternative pre-milling treatment for pigeon pea. Response surface methodology (RSM) basedcentral composite design was used to study the effect of the independent variables (microwave power and exposure time) on the dehulling parameters. The process parameters showed significant effects on various dehulling parameters (per cent dehulled whole and splits, un-dehulled whole and splits, fines/ broken, powder and hulls). Highest dehulling efficiency and lowest loss were observed for a microwave treatment at 630 W for 90 s. With the rising market demand for pulses, microwave energy can prove tobe a profitable pre-treatment technique for dehulling of pigeon pea.