Drying Rate of Skim Milk From Virgin Coconut Oil Remaining Water

Abstract

Coconut tree’s benefits were not only in flesh that can be processed into coconut milk, copra, and coconut oil but also in all part of coconut plants. Coconut oils were produced from dried coconut by extraction. The oil from this process is known as virgin coconut oil (VCO). During the VCO production, coconut residue (left after removing the coconut milk), coconut skim milk (CSM) and insoluble protein are the main by-products. By product such as skim milk and insoluble protein in coconut have been used to increase products value, which is used as a low protein healthy drink. This study aims to determine the drying rate in producing of CSM using a dryer. VCO remaining water is fed into the vacuum freeze dryer, the drying temperature is maintained (-10 ̊C) – (-25 C) with drying time of 12 hours and 13 hours. The results show that the lower temperature and the longer time drying, the slower drying rate. The highest levels protein were at the drying time for 13 hours with a drying temperature of -25 C, namely 36.28% with water content contained in the CSM of 5.49%. The drying rate obtain 2.53 – 2.54 gram per hour in every driying times and temperatures.