African Journal of Food Science Research

African Journal of Food Science Research ISSN 2375-0723 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 149-154, December, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prediction of drying model and determination of effects of drying temperature on Mucilage and Vitamin-C contents of Fluted Jute (Corchorus capsularis) Leaves

Famurewa J. A. V and Akinmuyisitan F A

Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 9 December, 2014

Abstract 

This study investigated the suitable drying model and the effects of different drying temperatures on the mucilage property of fluted jute leaves (Corchorus capsularis . A cabinet dryer was employed to dry a well cleaned leaves in a thin layer, differently at air temperatures of 40, 50, 60 and 70 ℃ respectively. Five thin layer-drying models (Lewis, Page, Modified page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic) were fitted to the experimental moisture ratio data. The dried samples were analyzed for mucilage and vitamin C contents. Drying of Corchorus leaves prominently occurred in falling rate period.  Among the mathematical models investigated, the Logarithmic model satisfactorily described the drying behaviour of Corchorus leaves with highest R² and lowest RMSE, MBE, and χ²  at 40, 50, 60 and 70 ⁰C respectively. Viscosity was at its highest at 70 ⁰C  and lowest values at 40 ℃ while Vitamin C was highest at   50 ⁰C and lowest at 40 ℃. Based on the result of this study, drying temperature of 50 ℃ and Logarithmic model  were recommended for drying of Corchorus for better retention of vitamin C, though 70 ⁰C retained higher quantity of mucilage, but not significantly different to that of 50 ⁰C.

Key words: Fluted jute leaves, mucilage, Vitamin C, modelling, drying.