Mathematical modelling and drying kinetics of kinnow and sweet lime peels.

Abstract

Peel is one of the prominent by-product of citrus fruit industry. Peel, in general, is discarded as waste which can act as a potential source of phenolic compounds and nutraceutical. In this study, drying characteristics of kinnow and sweet lime peels as a function of drying method and temperature were investigated. The drying experiments were performed using polyhouse drying and cabinet drying (50 and 60 °C). Different drying models such as Page, Modified Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic were fitted to the drying data. The fitting of the models was compared using various statistical parameters such as correlation coefficient (R2), chi square (χ2), mean bias error (MBE) and root mean square error (RMSE) to the suitability of the model. According to the regression analysis, Page model was found to be best fitted which satisfactorily describing the drying curves with a correlation coefficient (R2 ≥ 0.99) for all drying conditions.