Effect of moisture content on physical properties of cashew nut of different varieties

Abstract

<p>The physical properties, viz., geometric diameter, surface area, sphericity, volume, bulk density, true density and angle of repose was measured for four cashew varieties <em>viz</em>., <em>Vengurle 1, Vengurle 3, Vengurle 4</em> and <em>Vengurle 7</em> at different moisture content (15 to 87% db). For <em>Vengurle</em> 1 as the moisture content increased, the physical properties i.e., geometric mean diameter, volume, surface area, true density and angle of repose increased from 20.8 to 22.1 mm, 3485 to 4416 mm<sup>3</sup>, 1355 to 1540 mm<sup>2</sup>, 984 to 1030 kg m<sup>-3</sup> and 32 to 37˚, respectively. The sphericity and bulk density decreased from 74.2 to 71.4 per cent and 490 to 418 kg m<sup>-3</sup> respectively. For <em>Vengurle 3</em> geometric mean diameter, volume, surface area, true density and angle of repose increased from 27.2 to 28.6 mm, 7912 to 9169 mm<sup>3</sup>, 2320 to 2567 mm<sup>2</sup>, 1020 to 1048 kg m<sup>-3</sup> and 33 to 35.5˚, respectively. The sphericity and bulk density decreased from 75.5 to 75.2 per cent and 531 to 470 kg m<sup>-3</sup> respectively. For <em>Vengurle 4</em> the geometric mean diameter, volume, surface area, true density and angle of repose increased from 21.0 to 24.1mm, 3362 to 5113 mm<sup>3</sup>, 1391 to 1828 mm<sup>2</sup>, 970 to 1030 kg m<sup>-3</sup> and 32.5 to 38˚, respectively. The sphericity and bulk density decreased from 65.8 to 66.8 per cent, 517 to 462 kg m<sup>-3</sup>, respectively. For <em>Vengurle 7</em> the geometric mean diameter, volume, surface area, true density and angle of repose increased from 24.2 to 24.9 mm, 5102 to 5547 mm<sup>3</sup>, 1840 to 1941 mm<sup>2</sup>, 998 to 1045 kg m<sup>-3</sup> and 33 to 38˚, respectively. The sphericity and bulk density decreased from 65.4 to 65.8 per cent, 518 to 438 kg m<sup>-3</sup>, respectively.</p>