Study of drying characteristics of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in a tray dryer

Abstract

Lemongrass primarily used for medicinal purposes, as tea and essential oil is perishable, with a limited shelf life and medical potential. Therefore, this study was conducted with a goal to examine the drying features of lemongrass in an experimental setting, such as moisture content and drying rate (DR). The effect of drying temperature on moisture removal rate was estimated Using the leaves of lemongrass dried at different temperatures of 40°C, 50°C, 60°C, and 70°C. The weight of lemongrass was monitored at ten-minute intervals after it had been dried for 30 minutes. The time taken to eliminate moisture was found to increase in direct proportion to the air-drying temperature. Similarly, the moisture loss increased as drying time, size, and temperature increased during the drying process. Therefore, it could be concluded that, higher drying temperatures are associated with a shorter drying time and a faster moisture removal rate. These results can be used as a starting point for further research into mass transfer and moisture removal throughout the drying process under varied drying conditions.