Drying and storage of the kernels of the argan tree

The Argania spinosa (L. Skeels) is an endemic tree of the south-west morocco. It gives a fruit that contains a seed oleaginous. Oil is produced from the kernels by press or by hands Or by an organic solvent such as hexane. This work has for objective to study parameters influencing the storage of kernels practiced before extraction of oil. Optimal storage conditions of the argan tree kernels were determine by measuring the water activity, such a measure allowed to control and optimize the manufacturing process and conservation and ensure its mechanical stability, physical, chemical, and microbiological. Thus water sorption isotherms of argan kernels were determined at different temperatures : 40 ° C and 70 ° C using the standard static gravimetric method. Six saturated salt solutions selected to give different relative humidity in the range of 0.05–0.90 were used. Results showed that temperature has a great effect on the sorption isotherms kernels. kernels lost a great part of their water when the temperature increases. Thus temperature accelerates the drying reaction. The optimum size of kernels allowing to have optimum drying is located between 0,6mm and 1mm. Increasing the thickness of the contact surface reduces the effect of drying parameters.