Drying kinetics of pomegranate arils

Thin layer drying of pomegranate arils was performed in a cabinet drier at drying temperatures of 50, 55 and 60 degrees C. The time required to dry pomegranate arils from an initial moisture content of 271.80% (d.b.) to the final moisture content of 8.70 +/- 1% (d.b.) was 11, 9 and 6 It at 50, 55 and 60 degrees C of drying air temperature, respectively. The drying time decreased with increase in drying air temperature. Drying of pomegranate arils occurred in the falling rate period. Drying curves obtained from the data are fitted with different mathematical models for evaluating a suitable thin layer drying model. The page model satisfactorily represented the drying characteristics of pomegranate arils than other models. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.