Browsing by Author "Sneha Davison"

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    Comparative study on infrared radiation and hot air convective drying of coconut: Effect on oil quality features
    (2024) R. Pandiselvam; Sneha Davison; M.R. Manikantan; Anjitha Jacob; S.V. Ramesh; S h a m e e n a Be e g u m , P.P.
    Appropriately dried coconut kernel, or copra, is imperative for oil production to ensure consistent quality, taste, aroma, and nutritional properties of the resultant coconut oil. This research assesses the effects of different drying techniques—hot air drying (HAD), infrared drying (ID), and infrared-assisted hot air drying (IAHAD)—on the quality profile of coconut oil extracted from copra. Coconut kernels were subjected to radiation and convective hot-air drying methods at varying temperatures (50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C). The fresh oil sample extracted from copra using different drying techniques exhibited zero peroxide value, indicating high quality. Among the methods, IAHAD at 60 °C was remarkable for producing the highest-grade copra, resulting in superior quality oil with exceptional preservation of essential nutrients. The physical and biochemical properties of the coconut oil produced using IAHAD at 60 °C included specific gravity, refractive index, moisture content, antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content, all indicating enhanced oil quality.
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    Infrared-aided hot-air drying of coconut: Impact on drying kinetics and quality metrics
    (2024) R. Pandiselvam; Sneha Davison; M. R. Manikantan; G. Jeevarathinam; Anjitha Jacob; S. V. Ramesh; P. P. Shameena Beegum
    This study explored various drying techniques and temperatures to analyze their effects on the drying kinetics and quality of copra. The initial moisture content of coconut kernels was 50%–55% (w.b.), which decreased to 6%–8% (w.b.) as a result of the drying process. This study focuses on evaluating the individual and hybrid effects of infrared drying (IRD) and hot-air drying (HAD) techniques to enhance the quality of copra. Three drying methods were used: IRD, HAD, and infrared-assisted hot-air drying (IRAHAD). Coconut pieces were subjected to different drying temperatures (50, 60, and 70 C) with a constant air speed of 2 m/s. Optimal results were achieved by employing the IRAHAD method at 60 C, preserving a crucial fat content of 68.4% essential for increased extraction of oil from copra and comparatively high drying rates. In particular, the drying rates in IRAHAD were twice as high as those in IRD and HAD. At a drying temperature of 60 C, the logarithmic model and the diffusion approximation model were deemed the best fit for HAD and IRAHAD, respectively.