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Abstract
The effects of alginate concentration and drying temperature on drying kinetics/characteristics of alginate solution and mechanical property of formed solid films were examined. Solid films were fabricated through thin-layer drying of 1 to 4%w/w sodium alginate solution at 40, 60, and 80°C using the solvent-evaporation method. The water weight loss profile of alginate solution undergoing drying was recorded with time. The polymer weight of all solid films was kept constant. The plasticity of films was evaluated using thermomechanical analyzer. The findings indicated that both constant rate and falling rate periods existed during drying of dilute alginate solution or at low drying temperature since both surface and core waters were available for drying. The falling rate period dominated in drying of an alginate solution of high polymer concentration and at high drying temperatures with internal diffusion being the governing transport phenomenon for water. In the latter, an exponential relationship between water content and drying time was obtained. The drying process of 4%w/w alginate solution at 60 and 80°C was relatively simple as there was only a single drying stage, viz. the falling rate period requiring no consideration of critical moisture content. The drying rate was faster than those obtained from the dilute alginate solution or conducted at low temperature, such as 40°C. The plasticity attributes of films prepared from 4%w/w alginate solution can be modulated to a degree similar to films prepared from dilute alginate solution or dried at low temperature via changing the drying temperature between 60 and 80°C.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Higher Education, MOSTI, Malaysia, and Research Management Institute, UiTM, for financial and facility support throughout the entire research project.
Notes
NE = constant rate period was not evident; NR = not relevant.
± Denotes uncertainty.
± Denotes standard error.
NE = evaporation governing drying period was not evident.
± Denotes standard error.
NE = evaporation governing drying period was not evident.
± Denotes standard error.
NE = evaporation governing drying period was not evident.