Optimization of heated-air drying of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Date

2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Edgardo V. Casas

Abstract

The optimum drying condition of water hyacinth was investigated to contribute in the improvement of present drying process. The effect of three independent parameters (drying temperature, airflow rate and number of passes) on the responses were determined using the Response Surface Methodology. The response parameters were composed of 1 final moisture content, (2) moisture ratio, (3) drying rate, (4) tensile strength, and (5) browning index. Box and Benhken experimental design was used as design of experiments that resulted into 15 drying runs. Statistical analysis was employed to evaluate the treatment effects.Drying temperature significantly affected the drying rate, moisture ratio, and browning index. Airflow rate has a significant effect in the drying rate only while number of passes significantly affected the drying rater and browning index. The optimized conditions for drying the water hyacinth were at drying temperature of 90°C , airflow rate of 0.044m³/s, the number of passes equivalent to 5. The best model that characterizes the drying of water hyacinth is a rational expressed as MR=1.00-3.07ek/1+9.87e⁻²x+(3.84e𔓒x)²

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2012 A2 /R37

Document Type

Thesis

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