Determination of effective moisture diffusivity, energy consumption and active ingredient concentration variation in Inula racemosa rhizomes during drying

摘要

Influence of drying temperature (30 degrees C-60 degrees C) and relative humidity (30%-80%) on moisture diffusivity, energy requirement and quality of Inula racemosa rhizomes, in terms of alantolactone and iso-alantolactpne, were analyzed. The rhizomes were dried in climate control chamber with,constant values of temperature and relative humidity. At low relative humidity condition temperature was found as major controlling factor for drying rate but at high relative humidity conditions, it control drying rates in comparison to temperature. Effective diffusion coefficient (Deft) was found to decrease with increase in relative humidity of drying air. Energy requirement increases with increase in relative humidity and temperature. Concentration of alantolactone and iso-alantolactone was found to increase during drying in comparison to that in fresh I. racemosa rhizomes. (c) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.