Drying kinetics and optimization of microwave- assisted drying of quince pomace

In this study, microwave drying conditions of quince pomace optimized with respect to quality attributes (moisture content, color change and consumer acceptance) using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM technique was used to develop models to respond to the microwave power (100, 2000, 300 W), microwave time (5, 10, 15 min). The models obtained for the responses were adequate and acceptable because the coefficient of determination R2 of the models was relatively high. Microwave power of 200Wand microwave time of 8 minutes emerged as the optimum conditions prior to air-drying at 50°C. To describe the drying process the experimental data for moisture loss was converted to moisture ratios. The effective moisture diffusivity increased with increase in microwave power and its values varied from 1.83-4.87×10-9 m2/s. Using an exponential expression based on Arrhenius equation to calculated the activation energy and was found to be 16.41 W/mm.