Desorption isotherms and isosteric heat of araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) seeds

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the desorption isotherms and isosteric heat of Annona crassiflora Mart. seeds, using Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Schwarz’s Bayesian information criterion (BIC) to assist in the choice of the nonlinear regression model. The desorption isotherms were determined by indirect static method and water activity was obtained using the instrument HygroPalm; the product was put in the device in B.O.D. chamber set at 10, 20, 30 and 40 °C. Several nonlinear regression models were fitted to the experimental data by the Gauss-Newton method. The desorption isotherms of Annona crassiflora Mart. seeds can be represented by the models of Chung-Pfost, Copace, Modified GAB, Modified Henderson, Modified Oswin, Sabbah and Sigma Copace. However, the Sigma Copace model showed better fit to the experimental data, with lower AIC and BIC values, being chosen to represent the desorption isotherms of Annona crassiflora Mart seeds. Isosteric heat increased with decreasing moisture content, requiring a greater amount of energy to remove water from seeds, with values ranging from 2541.64 to 2481.56 kJ kg-1, for the moisture content range from 5.69 to 14.93% on a dry basis.