A study of drying parameters on drying time and colour quality of grated coconut using tumbling mechanism in convective dryer
A small scale convective dryer with tumbling mechanism was specially constructed for drying grated coconut. This new drying mechanism was evaluated in term of drying behaviour and colour quality of the final product. Three main factors that involved were hot air temperature, rotational speed (rpm) and air velocity. Every combined parameter of a sample was compared to each other and also with freshly grated coconut. It was found that the combination of 60°C, 6 rpm and 4.31 ms-1 had the shortest drying time as well as the highest drying rate among other combinations. In contrast, combination factors of 50° C, 3 rpm and 2.06 ms-1 had the lowest drying rate. Three main factors; temperature, rotational speed and air velocity were significantly contributed to the response of drying time as (p<0.05). Drying rate also increased with increase in temperature, rotational speed and air velocity. In term of colour analysis (L*, a*, b*), there was a significant difference among dried grated coconut samples. Nevertheless, sample 60˚C, 3 rpm and 4.31 ms-1 and 50˚C, 3 rpm and 4.31 ms-1 showed no significant different (p>0.05) in lightness when compared to freshly grated coconut hence excellent in retaining its original appearance. On top of that, sample (60˚C, 3 rpm and 4.31 ms-1 ) also achieved considerable drying rate with an acceptable drying time of 135 mins.