Mathematical modeling of the drying kinetics of sugarcane slices.

Sugarcane crop is most important economically, socially and environmentally. Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world. With the objective of contributing towards precision agriculture, the air drying characteristics of sliced sugarcane ( Saccharum spp ) were investigated and made to fit into semi-theoretical models used to describe drying behavior. The drying tests were performed in an experimental fixed-bed dryer with upward air flow. The drying was carried out at two air temperatures: 50 and 60oc with air relative humidity of 17.9 and 11.1, respectively. The time required for sugarcane drying, from an initial moisture content of 70% w.b. to the final moisture content of 6% w.b., was 7.5 and 3.5 h for drying temperatures of 50 and 60oc, respectively. Experimental data were adjusted to 4 traditional mathematical models in order to represent the drying process of agricultural products. The Midilli model was the one that best described the sliced sugarcane drying process.