THIN LAYER DRYING 0F WATERMELON SEEDS (Colocynthis Citullus)

This research aims to the determination of the optimum temperature and air velocity required for drying a thin layer of watermelon seeds (Colocynthis Citullus). For sitting up of these seeds for snapping. Watermelon seeds were dried under four temperatures which are: 40, 50, 60 and 70 oC. Under each drying temperature, four air velocities were tested. These velocities are: 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 m/s. drying time was 7 h for all treatments. The drying rate constant “k” (min-1) was calculated for each of the previously mentioned treatments. The study concluded to that The greatest value of "k" is at 50 oC drying temperature and 2 m/s drying velocity and calculated to be 0.0123 min-1.