Experimental Characterization and Mathematical Modelling of Natural Drying of Apricots at Low Temperatures

Can Hu, Jie Li, Qiaonan Yang, Xiaokang Yi (), Hui Cheng, Chao Xu and Zhenhao Du
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Can Hu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
Jie Li: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
Qiaonan Yang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Fujian Agricuture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xiaokang Yi: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
Hui Cheng: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
Chao Xu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
Zhenhao Du: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: To mitigate reduced apricot fruit quality due to mildew, browning and sand dust from natural drying under low temperatures and humidity, we determined the characteristics of three different methods of drying (via hanging) and further established their mathematical models. Various comparative analyses of natural drying by laying apricots in an area of the Gobi Desert, subjecting them to ventilated drying in an air-drying house, and hanging them on trees were conducted. The least and most efficient methods were hanging on trees (302 h) and laying them in an area of the Gobi Desert (>192 h), respectively. The loss rate and the total sugar content were 5.26% and 70.16%, and up to 18.31% and 68.54% for fruits dried by ventilated drying in an air-drying house and those hung on trees, respectively. Fruits dried by ventilated drying in an air-drying house showed the least loss and the best comprehensive quality. Using experimental data from assessments of the drying methods, mathematical models were constructed and fitted to drying mathematical models of seven kinds of porous media. The Wang and Singh model had the best fitting degree, an error value of less than 0.05, and the regression that most accurately explained the drying mathematical model for apricots under natural conditions.

Keywords: apricot; loss rate; moisture ratio; mathematical model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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