THIN LAYER DRYING MODEL OF PINEAPPLE'S FIBROUS RESIDUE

It was tested the applicability of ten different thin layer mathematical drying models (Newton, Page, modified Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic, Midilli, Two terms, Approximation of diffusion, Verma and Two term exponential) in the prediction of thin layer drying curves, of the fibrous residue generated in the pineapple fruit processing. The drying data were obtained in fix-bed dryer (laboratory scale), in three levels of temperature (50 degrees C, 60 degrees C and 70 degrees C) and velocity of dryer air (2.0 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 3.0 m/s). The correlation analysis was performed using the STATISTICA computer program with non linear regression. In accordance to the determination coefficient (r(2)), qui-square (chi(2)) and correlation between predict and observed moisture ratio values the best fits were Page, modified Page and Two term exponential models with two parameters; Approximation of diffusion and Verma with three parameters and Midilli with four parameters