Drying characteristics and sorption isotherms of silverside fish (Atherina)

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this work was to report drying characteristics and sorption isotherms of silverside fish. The sorption isotherm was determined at four temperature levels 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C and at water activities, ranging from 0.058 to 0.89, using the static gravimetric method. Five sorption models were fitted with the desorption data generated from the gravimetric method. It was found that the Peleg model suitably represents the sorption experimental data in the mentioned investigated ranges of temperature and water activities. Sorption isosteric heat was determined from sorption data using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. The relationship between the net isosteric heat of sorption and the moisture content was best expressed by the Tsami’s equation. The drying characteristic curve and the drying rate expression of silverside fish have been established from experimental convective drying kinetics.