Moisture Diffusivity in High Oleic Sunflower Seeds and Kernels

Abstract

Moisture diffusivities in high oleic seeds and kernels were obtained from experimental thin layer drying rates in the range of 25–90°C air temperature and 4.2–33.5% initial moisture content (d.b.). Moisture diffusivity back-calculated from Fick´s second law of diffusion varied between 0.85.10^-10 and 7.26.10⁻¹⁰ m²/s for seeds and between 0.37.10⁻¹⁰ and 2.39.10⁻¹⁰ m²/s for kernels. The Arrhenius activation energy for seeds and kernels resulted 31 and 24 kJ/mol, respectively. A new model based on the kinetic parameter of Page equation was proposed as a simple tool to predict water diffusion in high oleic sunflower seeds and kernelss.

Keywords:

• Moisture diffusivity
• Sunflower seeds
• Kernels