Sun-drying Process Research Articles

Utilizing color analysis and image processing for the assessment of the color of block para rubber

This research explores the use of image processing and color analysis as a reliable approach for evaluating para rubber color quality. An automated color comparator prototype, based on the CIELAB color method and employing various image processing algorithms, is introduced. The research aims to enhance the precision of color analysis for block para rubbers (BPRs), a critical raw material in the rubber industry, impacted by environmental conditions during the sun-drying process. The study follows international standards for BPR specimen preparation and employs an image acquisition system, threshold techniques, and algorithms for color analysis. The proposed method aligns with Rubber Research Institute standards. The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the automated system in accurately assessing the color values of BPRs, providing valuable insights for the rubber industry. This image processing technique offers advantages in natural rubber production for products requiring specific color characteristics.

Radiological Risk Assessment of Uranium, Thorium and Potassium in Siluriformes and Oreochromis Niloticus in Baga, Borno State

The study of radiological risk assessment plays a crucial role in understanding the potential impact of radioactive elements on the environment and human health. Uranium, thorium, and potassium are naturally occurring radioactive elements commonly found in various geological formations worldwide. Their presence in aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, raises concerns regarding potential exposure and associated risks to aquatic organisms and humans (Ajayi et al., 2018; Syarbaini et al., 2014; Hamidalddin et al., 2016). In October 2023, two fish samples were obtained from Baga, Kukawa, Borno State. Sample A was catfish, while Sample B was tilapia. The amounts of uranium, thorium, and potassium were the main topics of the radiological risk assessment performed on the samples. Following a seven-day sun-drying process, the fish were ground into a powder and carefully sent to the Obafemi Awolowo University's Centre for Energy Research and Development in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The findings showed that both catfish and tilapia contain certain radionuclides (uranium, thorium, and potassium), their anticipated annual effective dose rates from consumption are relatively modest. It was discovered that the computed dose rates for tilapia (Sample B) and catfish (Sample A) were significantly lower than the global average for the yearly effective dosage limit for the general public, which is normally set at 1 millisievert (mSv) annually. In particular, the estimated annual effective dose rate were 3.190758 μSv/year and 4.021574 μSv/year for Sample A and B respectively. These results imply that eating tilapia and catfish is unlikely to expose the general public to radiation levels higher than dose recommended by international agreements. The investigation concludes that eating tilapia and catfish is compliant with international standards for radiation exposure from food. Nevertheless, maintaining ongoing food safety procedures depends on constant observation and adherence to changing regulations.

Drying kinetics and thermal energy evaluation of Moringa oleifera leaves drying using dehumidification with zeolite

Moringa Oleifera leaves contain many phytochemical compounds, as the potential source of antioxidants. The leaves must be converted into dried form to extend the shelf life and prevent the nutritional qualities. The lack of a common sun-drying process for Moringa Oleifera leaves is dependent on the weather. But using convective dryers also requires high investment costs and results in very low energy efficiency. One potential option to enhance energy efficiency is lowering the humidity by dehumidification with zeolite. This research aims to evaluate the effect of drying temperature and the weight of adsorbent (zeolite) on drying kinetic and thermal efficiency of Moringa Oleifera leaves drying. Moringa Oleifera leaves were dried under different drying temperatures (30-70℃) and weight of zeolite (0-0.3 kg). The moisture content of Moringa Oleifera leaves and the input-output temperature was recorded to evaluate the moisture reduction and thermal efficiency. Results showed that the Page model can be used to predict the drying time. At the higher drying temperature and higher zeolite weight, moisture reduction and thermal efficiency increased. But the effect of zeolite is only significant in drying at temperatures below 50℃.

Effects of Halogen Lamp and Traditional Sun Drying on the Volatile Compounds, Color Parameters, and Gel Texture of Gongliao Gelidium Seaweed.

Traditionally, the processing of Gelidium seaweed into Gelidium jelly was very complicated, and involved repeated washing with water and sun drying for seven rounds. The seaweed, which is originally reddish-purple in color, turns yellow in color after the repeated washing and sun drying cycles. However, the sun drying process can only be used on sunny days. Therefore, this study evaluated an alternative method, halogen lamp drying, and compared the qualities of the product, Gelidium jelly, made using the halogen lamp drying and traditional sun drying methods. The properties investigated included the agar yield, gelling temperature, hardness, springiness, rheological parameters, sensory attributes, color, and volatile compounds. The results demonstrated that the halogen lamp drying method required 12 washing and drying cycles to achieve similar jelly properties to seven rounds of sun drying in the experimental conditions. Volatiles including heptanal, β-ionone, and (E)-2-decenal could be used as indicators to monitor the washing and drying processes. Halogen lamp drying could be an alternative processing method for seaweed drying, especially on rainy days.

Design, Validation, and Examination on the Performance Improvement of Dewatering System Implemented for Biogas Slurry

The project addresses the pressing need for organic fertilizers in Nepal and explores an eco- friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. By dewatering biogas residue, this research contributes to sustainable agriculture practices. The project's methodology involved a combination of research, literature recommendations, and guidance from experienced supervisors. SolidWorks was utilized for the design phase, while ANSYS facilitated simulation works. Subsequently, the testing of the dewatering machine was conducted. The biogas slurry used for testing and sun-drying was sourced from a prototype 1m3 capacity biogas plant. The machine's performance was evaluated at various operating speeds, with 8 rpm identified as the most efficient. Notable outcomes included a liquid yield of 52.51%, an extraction efficiency of 79.11%, and extraction losses amounting to 22.80%. To enhance the quality of the organic fertilizer, the slurry sample underwent sun-drying for different durations: 24, 48, and 72 hours. Nutrient concentrations (TS, N, P, K) were analyzed, that came with the 48-hour sun-drying period proving to be the most effective in reducing Total Solid contents. Comparatively, pre-treating the slurry sample for 24 and 48 hours prior to testing in the dewatering machine allowed for an assessment of the machine's efficiency, offering valuable insights to be contrasted with the sun-drying process. This research paves the way for a greener, more efficient method of dewatering biogas slurry, aligning with Nepal's agricultural and environmental sustainability goals.

Design and Improvement of Dewatering System Implemented for Biogas Slurry

The project addresses the pressing need for organic fertilizers in Nepal and explores an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. By dewatering biogas residue, this research contributes to sustainable agriculture practices. The project's methodology involved a combination of research, literature recommendations, and guidance from experienced supervisors. SolidWorks was utilized for the design phase, while ANSYS facilitated simulation works. Subsequently, the testing of the dewatering machine was conducted. The biogas slurry used for testing and sun-drying was sourced from a prototype 1m3 capacity biogas plant. The machine's performance was evaluated at various operating speeds, with 8 rpm identified as the most efficient. Notable outcomes included a liquid yield of 52.51%, an extraction efficiency of 79.11%, and extraction losses amounting to 22.80%. To enhance the quality of the organic fertilizer, the slurry sample underwent sun-drying for different durations: 24, 48, and 72 hours. Nutrient concentrations (TS, N, P, K) were analyzed, that came with the 48-hour sun-drying period proving to be the most effective in reducing Total Solid contents. Comparatively, pre-treating the slurry sample for 24 and 48 hours prior to testing in the dewatering machine allowed for an assessment of the machine's efficiency, offering valuable insights to be contrasted with the sun-drying process. This research paves the way for a greener, more efficient method of dewatering biogas slurry, aligning with Nepal's agricultural and environmental sustainability goals.

Monitoring Changes in the Volatile Profile of Ecuadorian Cocoa during Different Steps in Traditional On-Farm Processing.

The present work was conducted to evaluate the volatile profile of Ecuadorian Forastero, CCN-51, ETT103 and LR14 cocoa beans during traditional fermentation in laurel wood boxes followed by a sun-drying process. Fifty-six volatiles were identified with HS-SPME-GC-MS. Aldehydes, alcohols and ketones were the compounds that mainly characterized the fresh cocoa. The main compounds formed during the anaerobic fermentation step were esters and acids, while in the aerobic fermentation step, an increase in ester-, aldehyde- and acid-type compounds was observed. Finally, after the drying step, a notable increase in the acid (i.e., acetic acid) content was the predominant trend. According to the genotypes, ETT103 presented high contents of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones and low contents of unfavorable acid compounds. The CCN-51 and LR14 (Trinitarian) varieties stood out for their highest amounts in acids (i.e., acetic acid) at the end of primary processing. Finally, the Forastero cocoa beans were highlighted for their low acid and high trimethylpyrazine contents. According to the chemometric and Venn diagram analyses, ETT-103 was an interestingly high-aromatic-quality variety for cocoa gourmet preparations. The results also showed the need for good control of the processing steps (using prefermentative treatments, starter cultures, etc.) on Ecuadorian genotypes of Trinitarian origin.

Processing and Sensory Quality of Dried Rebon Shrimps from the Katapang Doyong Coastal Area, Pangandaran Regency

This research aims to analyze the production process and organoleptic quality of dried shrimp produced in Katapang Doyong, Pangandaran-West Java, Indonesia. The research method used was a survey method. The research procedure was conducted in two stages. The first stage observed the process of making dried shrimp products, and the second stage tested the organoleptic quality of the dried shrimp produced. The analysis of dried shrimp production was conducted by observing the production site and interviewing workers and business owners. The organoleptic quality testing was performed using scoring tests. The research results concluded that the production process of dried shrimp in Lapang Katapang Doyong, Pangandaran consisted of three stages, namely cleaning, drying through the sun-drying process, and packaging. The organoleptic quality of the dried shrimp produced averaged above 8. Overall, it meets the requirements of food quality and safety as stipulated in the National Standardization Agency, with a minimum organoleptic value of 7 for dried shrimp.

Solar drying of peppermint leave: Thermal characteristics, drying kinetics, and quality assessment

In the present study, thermal performance of greenhouse solar dryer (GHSD) was analyzed at full load of peppermint leaves for dehydration. The experiments were conducted in both GHSD and sun drying processes to compare drying characteristics, thermal properties, and quality assessment of peppermint leaves. The maximum drying cabin temperature attained during the experimentation was 58.3 °C at solar radiation 864W/m2. Initial moisture content of peppermint leaves 81.25% reduced to 11.22% and 22% within 10 h in GHSD and sun drying, respectively. Drying rate was obtained as 0.65 kg water/kg solid.hr and 0.61 kg water/kg solid.hr for GHSD and sun drying process at the end of the experiment. Verma et al. model accurately defined the drying characteristics of peppermint leaves in GHSD and sun drying. Average effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), mass transfer coefficient (hm) and heat transfer coefficient (h) of peppermint leaves were increased by 12.76%, 17.71%, and 64.23%, correspondingly in GHSD compared to sun drying. Activation energy (Ea) of peppermint leaves was computed as 32.25 kJ/mol in GHSD, while in sun drying method, it was 59.68 kJ/mol. Water activity (Aw) peppermint leaves were 0.850, 0.705, 0.385 and 0.850, 0.765, 0.520 at 8, 14, 19 h in GHSD and sun drying.

Effect of drying processes on the occurrence of lipid oxidation-derived 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius).

In this study, dry-cured Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius, DCSM) was prepared via three different methods (hot-air drying, cold-air drying, and sun drying). The content of 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) derived from lipid oxidation in whole processes was investigated by HPLC-MS/MS. The changes in fatty acid composition were detected by GC-MS, and the degree of lipid oxidation was evaluated by the levels of acid values (AV), peroxide values (POV), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The results showed that the drying process significantly accelerated lipid oxidation in DCSM. The contents of HHE and HNE were significantly increased after processing. The content of HHE was higher by 18.44-, 13.45-, and 16.32-folds compared with that of HNE after three different processes, respectively. The HHE and HNE contents fluctuated upward during the hot-air and cold-air drying process. However, the contents of HHE and HNE increased time-dependent during the sun drying process, with the highest values of 86.33 ± 10.54 and 5.29 ± 0.54 mg/kg fish among the three different processes. Besides, there was a significant positive correlation between HHE contents and n-3 fatty acids content in hot-air drying and sun drying processes (Pearson's r=.991/.996), and HNE occurrence was closely related to n-6 fatty acid content in sun drying process (Pearson's r=.989). Regression analysis indicated that the content of HHE and TOTOXTBA values in DCSM showed good linear relationships (R 2 value=.907), which suggested that the content of HHE could be used to estimate the oxidative deterioration of dry-cured fish products.

Influence of different pretreatments and drying methods on the chemical compositions and bioactivities of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma.

BackgroundThe processing of medicinal plant materials is one of the important factors influencing the components and biological activities of TCMs. Smilax glabra Roxb. is an herbal vine widely distributed in China, and its dried rhizome (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, SGR) is often used in traditional medicines and functional foods. The processing methods of fresh cutting for SGR slices have been included in ancient Chinese herbal works, some local standards of TCMs, and the current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, to date, the scientific basis for the processing of fresh medicinal materials for SGR slices has not been revealed.MethodsTo optimize the processing method for preparing SGR slices from the fresh rhizomes, the chemical compositions of the un-pretreated and pretreated (boiling, steaming) samples before and after drying (sun-drying, shade-drying, oven-drying), and the contents of astilbin isomers in dried SGR were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-DAD methods, respectively. Then, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the prepared SGR slices were investigated by biological assays.ResultsA total of fifty-two compounds were identified from the un-pretreated and pretreated samples and a total of forty-nine compounds were identified from the subsequently dried samples. After pretreated by boiling and steaming, the contents of neoastilbin, neoisoastilbin, and isoastilbin in the prepared samples all increased. As a quality marker of SGR, the content of astilbin was unchanged or decreased slightly compared with that in the un-pretreated samples. During the drying process, the contents of the four astilbin stereoisomers in the un-pretreated samples increased significantly, while those in the pretreated samples had a slight increase or decrease. The effects of different processing methods were sorted according to the bioactivities of the prepared SGR. As a result, SGR slices prepared with no pretreatment followed by a sun-drying process have a higher astilbin content, better bioactivities and more energy savings, representing the optimum processing method for SGR slices.ConclusionsThis study reveals the scientific basis for the processing of fresh medicinal materials for SGR slices. The results provide scientific information for the quality control of SGR and its rational applications in herbal medicines and functional foods.Graphical abstract Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00614-7.

Thermokinetic Study by Solar Convective Drying of Argan Press-Cake

The argan tree "Argania spinosa" is a typically multi-use tree. It represents the agroforestry systems pivot which has so far succeeded in meeting the needs of the inhabitants of arid and semi-arid areas strongly marked by climatic hazards. Argan press-cake, residue from the argan oil extraction, is used in several fields, namely: cosmetics, agriculture, and pharmacology. In order to keep this argan paste with a pennyworth, solar drying is an economically appropriate solution, energy and environmentally friendly. In this work, an experimental study is performed to improve the sun-drying process of Argan press-cake using an indirect forced convection solar dryer. As a result, the evolution of the temperature and the drying kinetics inside the product have been assessed. The influence of air recycling drying on the drying time has been highlighted and the characteristic drying law was established too. Thus, the optimal storing conditions of argan press-cake were identified.

Moisture contents and product quality prediction of Pu-erh tea in sun-drying process with image information and environmental parameters.

In this study, moisture contents and product quality of Pu‐erh tea were predicted with deep learning‐based methods. Images were captured continuously in the sun‐drying process. Environmental parameters (EP) of air humidity, air temperature, global radiation, wind speed, and ultraviolet radiation were collected with a portable meteorological station. Sensory scores of aroma, flavor, liquor color, residue, and total scores were given by a trained panel. Convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) models were constructed based on image information and EP, which were selected in advance using the neighborhood component analysis (NCA) algorithm. The evolved models based on deep‐learning methods achieved satisfactory results, with RMSE of 0.4332, 0.2669, 0.7508 (also with R 2 of .9997, .9882, .9986, with RPD of 53.5894, 13.1646, 26.3513) for moisture contents prediction in each batch of tea, tea at different sampling periods, the overall samples, respectively; and with RMSE of 0.291, 0.2815, 0.162, 0.1574, 0.3931 (also with R 2 of .9688, .9772, .9752, .9741, .8906, with RPD of 5.6073, 6.5912, 6.352, 6.1428, 4.0045) for final quality prediction of aroma, flavor, liquor color, residue, total score, respectively. By analyzing and comparing the RMSE values, the most significant environmental parameters (EP) were selected. The proposed combinations of different EP can also provide a valuable reference in the development of a new sun‐drying system.

Effects of sun-drying on the antioxidant potentials of pepper (Capsicum) varieties

The present study investigated the effects of sun-drying on the antioxidant potential of three pepper varieties: Capsicum annuum var, Capsicum chinense and Capsicum annuum. Fresh fruits of the pepper varieties were collected, washed under distilled water and were divided into two parts: one for fresh sample and the other for the dried sample. Dried and fresh samples of the pepper varieties were homogenized and extracted with methanol. The concentrations of total phenolics and flavonoids were evaluated; DPPH-radical scavenging activity and the FRAP potential of the extracts were also determined. The results revealed that sun-drying process significantly reduced the total phenolic content of C. annuum var, C. chinense and C. annuum from 5.91 ± 0.22 mg/g GAE, 6.9 ± 0.23 mg/g GAE, 6.67 ± 0.99 mg/g GAE to 3.31 ± 0.72 mg/g GAE, 3.59 ± 0.89 mg/g GAE, 3.01 ± 0.17 mg/g GAE respectively and flavonoid content from 3.80 ± 0.02 mg/g QE, 3.91 + 0.08 mg/g QE, 3.84 ± 0.08 mg/g QE to 1.26 ± 0.90 mg/g QE, 1.95 ± 0.07 mg/g QE, 1.23 ± 0.04 mg/g QE respectively. The result also revealed that the fresh samples of C. annuum var, C. chinense and C. annuum exhibited higher percentage inhibition of DPPH-radical at 59.4 ± 0.5%, 61.2 ± 0.6%, 58.9 ± 0.2% respectively and were significantly different from the percentage inhibition by the dried samples: 39.2 ± 0.5%, 42.4 ± 0.4%, 38.6 ± 0.6% respectively.The FRAP potential of the fresh samples of C. annuum var, C. chinense and C. annuum: 588.56 ± 29.4 ìmol Fe(II)/g, 691.34 ± 20.46 ìmol Fe(II)/g and 598.9 ± 23. 82 ìmol Fe(II)/g respectively were significantly different from the dried samples: 370.22 ± 14.75 ìmol Fe(II)/g, 392.34 ± 45.74 ìmol Fe(II)/g and 358.6 ± 30.08 ìmol Fe(II)/g respectively. The three Capsicum species are very rich in antioxidants. However, the sun drying method reduced the antioxidant capacities of the peppers, thus further studies should be carried out on the best method for the preservation of Capsicum species.
 Key Words: Capsicum. annuum var, C. chinense, C. annuum, Antioxidant, Sun-drying, methanolic extract

Green synthesis of the plant assisted nanoparticles from Euphorbia neriifolia L. and its application in the degradation of dyes from industrial waste

In the world industries are growing very rapidly resulting in fast development. Various industries are coming up such as that of dyes, paints, pharmaceuticals etc. Dyes are used in various industries and release pollutants in the environment. It is necessary to remove such pollutants from the environment. Euphorbia neriifolia L. grow as the weed in the forests of the konkan region in waste land area. This weed is a typical latex bearing plant. This latex can be converted into the powder under sun drying process. This powder can be used for the preparation of Fe nanoparticles. The plant assisted synthesized nanoparticles have good particle size, morphology and band gap. These nanoparticles used for the degradation of the dye like Methylene Blue and Methylene Red from the industrial waste. It gives very good results. We can develop new catalyst for the degradation of the dyes from the industrial waste. It act as good catalyst by the simple non form of the catalyst. This catalyst is derived from the plant Euphorbia neriifolia L. latex.

Drying kinetics and thermal analysis of turmeric blanching and drying using solar thermal system

This paper presents an experimental investigation and mathematical modelling of turmeric blanching and drying in the solar cabinet dryer (SCD) using solar thermal energy. Steam generated from the Scheffler system is used for turmeric blanching, and an average blanching efficiency obtained is 19.93%. Also, SCD used the steam generated from the Scheffler system for drying of turmeric, and the drying efficiency of SCD was found to be 1.62%. Further, turmeric dried in SCD without connecting it with the Scheffler system (without steam). The efficiency of SCD without steam is found to be 49.76%. Initial and final moisture content is calculated by measuring turmeric's weight at a regular interval of time. Turmeric's moisture content is reduced from 77% to 15% in open Sun drying (OSD) and the SCD when it is connected to steam and without steam. The time required for the drying in SCD with and without steam was 63.88% and 52.77% less than the open Sun-drying (OSD) process for the same moisture content reduction. Convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) and evaporative heat transfer coefficient (EHTC) play a vital role in the thermal performance of the SCD. Correlation between the Nusselt number, Reynold number, and Prandtl number is formulated using the experimental data to evaluate CHTC and EHTC. An average value of 1.2468 W/0C-m2 for CHTC and 28.8841 W/0C-m2 for EHTC is found for SCD connected to steam, whereas for SCD without steam, it is an average value of 0.8779 W/0C-m2 and 15.7462 W/0C-m2 is observed. Mathematical modeling of thin layer drying turmeric was done to predict the moisture ratio. Among the different mathematical models used for prediction, the Page model is best suitable for turmeric drying in OSD and SCD.

A Study of Overripe Seed Byproducts from Sun-Dried Grapes by Dispersive Raman Spectroscopy.

Overripe seeds from sun-dried grapes submitted to postharvest dehydration constitute a scarcely investigated class of vinification byproduct with limited reports on their phenolic composition and industrial applications. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was applied to characterize a selection of overripe seed byproducts from different white grapes (cv. Moscatel, cv. Pedro Ximénez and cv. Zalema) submitted to postharvest sun drying. The Raman measurements were taken using a 1064 nm excitation laser in order to mitigate the fluorescent effect and the dispersive detection scheme allowed a compactness of the optical system. Spectroscopic data were processed by a principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality and partner recognition. The evolution of the Raman spectrum during the overripening process was compared with the phenolic composition of grape seeds, which was determined by rapid resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (RRLC/MS). A multivariate processing of the spectroscopic data allowed the classification of overripe seeds according to the grape variety and the monitoring of stages of the postharvest sun drying process.

Effects of “nine steaming nine sun-drying” on proximate composition, oil properties and volatile compounds of black sesame seeds

Black sesame seeds (BSS) were processed by nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying, and the chemistry of their resulting products studied. That is, the shell color and structure, proximate composition, oil properties and volatile compounds of raw BSS were determined and compared with processed BSS. Various levels of shell color change and structure damage were observed. The proximate composition also differed, whereas the relative proportion of fatty acids and oil properties were unchanged. SPME-GCMS analysis revealed that aldehydes, hydrocarbons and alcohols were the main volatile compounds. And compared with raw BSS, four volatile substances were newly detected in the processed BSS. Principal component analysis (PCA) displayed the overall difference between samples and showed that repeated steaming and sun-drying process had a significant impact on the chemical composition of BSS.

Economics of Cassava Flour Production in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State

This study investigated the economics of cassava flour production in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The instrument of data collection was a well-structured questionnaire and interview schedules. A simple random sampling technique in proportion to population was used to select 120 respondents in the study area. Descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis were used to analyze the socioeconomic characteristics and cassava flour production inputs. The cassava flour processors in the study area were still in their active age with a relatively low level of education and moderate family size. Majority engaged in cassava flour production as primary occupation using soaking and sundry processing techniques. Therefore ₦23064 was the mean of gross margin in the area. It is recommended that cassava flour processors should be educated on new production technologies, assisted to have access to improved processing machine and to solve the problems itemized.

Performance of Drying Machine with Air Dehumidifying Process for Sweet Corn Seed (Zea mays saccharata)

The number of corn production and consumption in Indonesia has increased every year. One of the activities in achieving the production target is by supplying high-quality corn seeds. The water content of harvested sweet corn was ranging from 60% to70%. In order to produce a high quality of seeds, drying should perform with a standard drying temperature for seeds which is between 38°C and 43°C. A performance test of a tray drying machine with an air dehumidifying process was conducted. The air dehumidifying process was conducted by an air conditioning system. Drying was carried out until the corn seeds reach 10-11% moisture content with observations every two hours. This drying machine provided lower relative humidity air drying than conventional sun-drying with a 75% relative humidity reduction from the environment. Therefore, drying with optimal temperature can be conducted faster and higher efficiency. The average dehumidified air temperature was 41.1±0.6°C and the average relative humidity was 15.9±0.7% was used for drying air. It took 44 hours 25 minutes to reach 11% of sweet corn’s moisture content while the sun drying process took 89 hours of drying. The seed germination could reach 85.7% by using this method which was a 1% difference from a sun-drying method which was 86.7%.