Abstract
The objective of this research was to study the drying of "nanica" banana paste (variety belonging to the subgroup Cavendish) in a rotary dryer with an inert bed (RDIB). Preliminary tests were carried out to adjust the operational process parameters. An experimental design (central composite design) was used for the final drying experiments with the following variables: the drying time and the mass of paste fed into the dryer, and as responses: the moisture content and the yield in banana flour. As a result of the tests carried out according to the experimental design, a beige-coloured product, composed of banana powder and flakes was obtained with a characteristic banana aroma. A multiple linear regression of the experimental results was used to determine the influence of the process variables. The best operational conditions allowed for the manufacture of a product with 8.0% moisture content (wet weight base) and a flour production efficiency of 72.9%.
Highlights
Banana, besides constituting an expressive carbohydrate source, is rich in potassium, sodium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, calcium; and the vitamins: A, B1, B2, C and B3, all essential for the human metabolism (PADOVANI, 1989)
This paper describes the methodology used to dry the banana paste in a rotary dryer with an inert bed (RDIB), as well as presenting the results of the drying tests
The yield and moisture content of the banana flour were considered as the dependent variables or responses of the design
Summary
Besides constituting an expressive carbohydrate source (highly energetic), is rich in potassium, sodium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, calcium; and the vitamins: A, B1, B2, C and B3 (niacin), all essential for the human metabolism (PADOVANI, 1989). Abundant phenolic compounds were found in the Musa Cavendish variety (SOMEYA et al, 2002). The world banana production is increasing almost yearly (FAO, 2008) and reached approximately 100 million metric tons in 2008 making bananas the fruit with the largest world production. The world’s largest banana exporter, reported postharvest losses of bananas as high as 35-45%, whereas Brazil, the world’s second largest banana producer, producing approximately seven million tons a year, but only exporting 2%, reported a loss of approximately 40% due mostly to inadequate storage facilities during peak harvest times and industrial processing. The Nanicão variety (Musa cavendischii) is one of the most important crops in Brazil (CABRERA-PADILLA, 2003; CANO-CHAUCA et al, 2004; TRIBESS et al, 2009)
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