Equilibrium Moisture Content Models for Lafun
Insights into the relationship between the air relative humidity (water activity (aw)) and equilibrium moisture content of food materials is essential to maintain good keeping quality and optimize process operation. The adsorption isotherms for cassava flour (lafun) were investigated with the static gravimetric method. Concentrated acid (H2SO4) solutions were used to vary the micro-climate in the study and presented in an easy-to-use template-like format over the range of temperature (27- 40oC) and aw (0.10-0.80) usually experienced in the tropical environment. The experimental data were compared with five widely recommended models in the literature for food sorption isotherms (GAB, modified GAB, modified Oswin, modified Henderson & modified Chung-Pfost). The moisture sorption isotherms were sigmoidal in shape and were influenced by temperature. The modified Oswin model was found to be most adequate whilst the modified GAB appears not suitable to model the adsorption isotherms for lafun.