Hygroscopic Equilibrium Research Articles

Equilíbrio higroscópico das sementes de café, fumo e várias hortaliças

O presente trabalho refere-se às determinações dos equilíbrios higroscópicos das sementes de café, fumo e várias hortaliças, correspondentes às umidades relativas de 10% a 90%. A julgar pelos pesos secos relativamente baixos de tôdas as amostras provenientes da umidade relativa de 90%, parece não haver dúvida de que os elevados teores de umidade obtidos para essas amostras foram, em parte, motivados por uma redução na matéria sêca das sementes.

Hygroscopic Equilibrium and Viability of Naturally and Artificially Dried Seed of Crimson Clover, Trifolium incarnatum1

Hygroscopic Equilibrium and Viability of Naturally and Artificially Dried Seed of Crimson Clover, Trifolium incarnatum¹

Hygroscopic equilibrium of peanuts

Summary and ConclusionsThe hygroscopic equilibria and rates of attainment of hygroscopic equilibrium of freshly dug, naturally cured, and artificially cured peanuts have been determined over the range of 11–93% relative humidity at 25°C. The hygroscopic equilibrium does not appear to be dependent on the method of curing. At a constant relative humidity, the moisture content is distributed so that the moisture content of the skins is twice that of the meats and in general the moisture content is lowest in the meats, and is increasingly greater in hearts, shells, and skins, respectively.At 25° and 35°C, the relative humidity is of greater importance than the absolute humidity. Circulation of the air over the samples greatly increases the rate of attainment of hygroscopic equilibrium. At the higher temperature, the rate of attainment of hygroscopic equilibrium is further increased because of the increased rate of diffusion of moisture in the seed.Inasmuch as the hygroscopic equilibrium is the same at both 25° and 35°C., it is more advantageous when speed of drying is important to use the higher temperature because equilibrium is attained more rapidly.

Note on the hygroscopic equilibrium of cottonseed and cottonseed products

Summary and ConclusionsThe hygroscopic equilibrium of a sample of the Stoneville 2B variety of cottonseed and its derived products has been determined over the relative humidity range of 11 to 93%. In a previous publication (1) the hygroscopic equilibrium of a sample of the D and PL variety of cottonseed was determined over the range of 31 to 93% relative humidity: Comparison of the previous and present results show that the whole seed and kernels of both varieties exhibit the same hygroscopic equilibrium behavior. A comparison of the aforementioned results with those reported by Simpson (3) on Stoneville 2B variety, and by Franco (4) on the 1A 7387 variety grown in São Paulo, Brazil, show that for intact cottonseed the hygroscopic equilibrium behavior is the same.On the basis of the curves given in Figure 1 and on the assumption that the cottonseed used was representative of cottonseed in general, it is possible to calculate the equilibrium moisture content of the whole cottonseed or any component thereof. For example, cottonseed consisting of 12.1% linters, 87.9% delintered seed, 56.0% kernels, and 31.9% lint‐free hulls, and containing 12% moisture on a whole seed basis, will yield linters, delintered seed, kernels, and lint‐free hulls having 9.4, 12.7, 10.8, and 15.4% moisture, respectively.

Hygroscopic equilibrium of cottonseed

Summary and ConclusionAn investigation has been made of the hygroscopic equilibrium of cottonseed over a range of 31% to 93% relative humidity. From 31% to 71% relative humidity the moisture content of cottonseed increased linearly from 6.03% to 10.27%. From 71% to 93% relative humidity the moisture content increased rapidly from 10.27% to 22.19%. When cottonseed was separated into meats and hulls, including linters, it was found that the hulls contained more moisture than the meats.On the basis of these results it is apparent that, when stored cottonseed is aerated, consideration should be given to the effect of local atmospheric conditions. The relative humidity of the air used for aeration can affect the moisture content of the stored seed either favorably or adversely. Although it may temporarily reduce heating by conduction of the heat of respiration, it may increase the moisture content and thus stimulate further respiration and heating.