BASIC RESEARCH FOR RICE DRYING WITH SILICA GEL

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using silica gel as a desiccant, rice drying tests were carried out under two elemental drying systems. In the first system ( a divided particle bed system ), a rough rice bed was directly put on a silica gel bed in an airtight cylinder. In the second system ( a mixed particle bed system ). an intimate mixture of rice grains and silica gel particles was sealed in airtight bottles. Experimental results showed that the first system was not appropriate as a practical drier because of moisture inequalities in the rice bed. However, the second system which was assumed to have uniform moisture content was considered to be applicable to use in a practical drier because of reasonable drying rate and product rice quality. An empirical equation for predicting required amount of silica gel was given as a function of initial moisture content of both the rice and silica gel.