Effect of Genetic Algorithm Optimized Solar Tunnel Dryer on the Quality Attributes of Thin-Layer Dried Fish

ABSTRACTStudies were undertaken to establish the performance of a genetic algorithm-optimized solar tunnel dryer in drying of fish by comparing quality attributes of fish dried in the optimized solar tunnel dryer with that dried in a nonoptimized solar tunnel dryer and in open sun. A two-way analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference between moisture ratios for the fish dried under the optimized solar tunnel dryer and the other methods (F = 53.59, Fcrit,1% = 4.09). In addition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances showed that fish dried in the optimized dryer did not develop rancidity (2.30 µg MA/kg), that dried in nonoptimized dryer approached rancid values (5.3 µg MA/kg), while open sun dried fish was slightly rancid (7.95–8.45 µg MA/kg). Further, based on total volatile base nitrogen, fish under the three drying treatments did not develop significant putrefaction. Furthermore, it took 15, 22, and 28 h to dry fish to equilibrium moisture content of 0.12 kg/kg (dry basis), for the o...