Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Optimization of process parameters of hot air drying of banana (Musa paradisiaca l.) slices

International Conference and Exhibition on Food Processing & Technology

November 22-24, 2012 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Amita Vairat and Ramakrishna Pandey

Posters: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

The aim of this work is to optimize the process parameters for hot air drying of banana slices. As green banana is perishable and deteriorates after harvesting. Drying prolongs the shelf life of banana. The hot air drying characteristics of green banana slices were studied at drying temperature (40-800C), air velocity (1.5-5.5 m/s) and slice thickness (2-6 mm) in the laboratory scale hot air dryer. To improve the quality of dried banana slices, the banana slices were pretreated with potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS): citric acid as 0.50:1.0%. The quality characteristics of dried banana slices including rehydration ratio, % shrinkage, hardness, colour and proximate composition, were evaluated. Drying was found to occur in the falling rate period only. Higher drying rate were observed with the higher temperature level and minimum level of slice thickness. Drying rate increases with increase in air velocity upto 3.5 m/s after that there was no profound effect on drying rate. The results revealed that, the temperature, air velocity, slice thickness had significant effect on various quality parameters of dried banana slices viz. rehydration ratio, hardness, shrinkage, ascorbic acid and color whereas carbohydrate and ash content had non-significant effect. The optimum level of independent variables for banana drying obtained by using numerical optimization of multiple responses viz. drying time, rehydration ratio, shrinkage, hardness, ascorbic acid and L and b value were at temperature 600C, air velocity 3.5 m/s and slice thickness 2mm. These optimum values are recommended for hot air drying of banana.

Biography :

Amita Vairat completed her M. Tech from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand, India in 2009. She is doing Ph.D at Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India.