Mathematical modelling and experimental validation of solar drying of mushrooms

ABSTRACT

This article presents two mathematical models for drying mushrooms considering the shrinkage effect. Both the models consider the physical changes of mushrooms during drying using the diffusion equation. A convective term is presented in the first model while, in the second model, the effective diffusion co-efficient is employed. Although the diffusion co-efficient is mainly dependent on the water content of the mushrooms, both models are suitable for analyzing the drying process. Moreover, in this study it has been demonstrated that both models are equivalent. The Genetic Algorithmic process was used to estimate the parameter values in different conditions. The information regarding the moisture content and the thickness evaluation taken from the models shows the best fit with the experimental data. The mathematical models developed to simulate the drying curve of mushroom have been evaluated and compared.

Keywords:

• Mathematical models
• oyster gray mushroom
• scanning electron microscopy
• shrinkage
• solar drying

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education and University of Malaya for providing financial support under the research grant No. UM.C/HIR/MOHE/ENG/16001-00-D000024.