Moisture diffusivities for bran and endosperm during soaking of long‐grain brown rice

Abstract

SummaryA three‐dimensional transmission line matrix (TLM) model, using axisymmetric elements, was developed for describing moisture diffusion during the soaking of long‐grain brown rice. On the basis of this model, moisture diffusivities for bran and endosperm were calculated as a function of temperature. Endosperm diffusivities of 0.92, 1.08 and 1.26X10‐10 m2 s‐1 and bran diffusivities of 0.11, 0.18 and 0.37x10‐10 m2 s‐1 were found, both at 30, 40 and 50°C respectively. The activation energies for moisture diffusion were calculated to be 13.08 and 49.85 kJ mol‐1 for endosperm and bran respectively.