Abstract :
A study was conducted to determine the effect of blanching on moisture adsorption and desorption characteristics of amaranth leaves by static gravimetric method. Different saturated salt solutions were prepared to provide constant relative humidity environments. Four amaranth leaves samples (Unblanched, Unblanched dried, Blanched and Blanched dried) were kept at 3 temperatures (300C, 400C and 60ºC) with corresponding five relative humidity levels (09.76 to 90.28 %). It was observed that EMC of leaves increased with increase in relative humidity at constant temperature also at constant ERH, EMC decreased with increase in temperature. The adsorption EMC was lower than the desorption EMC for all the samples at all temperature and relative humidity ranges. The blanched dried amaranth leaves exhibited lowest EMC than other samples. Sorption data was modeled by using Henderson equation to develop guideline for moisture sorption process. Both constant of equation found to be dependent on temperature. The relation between constant was expressed by a polynomial equation.
Keyword :
Temperature dependant, hydration kinetics, blanched, unblanched Amarnath leaves