Kinetic parameters identification of conductive enhanced hot air drying process of food waste

The efficient utilization of waste from food industry is possible after thermal treatment of the material. This treatment should be economically feasible and compromise the energy efficient drying process. The main goal of this investigation is to determine drying characteristics of nectarine pomace as a waste from food industry. The measurements were performed in an experimental dryer by combined conductive-convective drying method with disk-shaped samples of 5, 7 and 10mm thickness and 100 mm in diameter at the air temperatures of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70oC, hot plate temperatures of 50, 60 an 70oC and air velocity of 1.5 m/s. The drying curves were compared to a few semi-theoretical mathematical models. The Logarithmic model showed the best correspondence. On the basis of experiments, it is determined that the drying process takes place in a falling rate period and it is accepted that the main mechanism of moisture removal is diffusion. The effective coefficient of diffusion was determined using experimental results by calculating the slope of the drying curves. Drying time and equilibrium moisture are determined for each experiment. Analysis of drying curves showed that the conductive-enhanced drying method reduces drying times and increases the diffusivity coefficient. The character of drying rate curves for conductive-enhanced drying was analyzed and compared with pure convective drying of nectarine pomace. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 451-03-68/2020-14/200105]