Shorter drying time and reduced energy consumption for instant germinated brown rice drying were evaluated to ensure that the quality of the final product was not compromised. Energy consumption, moisture content, color, morphology, rehydration, texture and sensory evaluation were determined during drying with a combination of far‐infrared radiation and hot air. Far‐infrared intensities from 1 to 5 kW/m2 were combined with a 40C temperature and 1 m/s air velocity. Drying rate increased with far‐infrared intensity, hence reducing the total drying time. The mathematical model was validated by comparing the simulated results with temperature and moisture content to described the drying behavior of instant germinated brown rice (R2 = 0.999). The total color difference (ΔE) varied from 2.9 to 4.2. Increasing far‐infrared intensity decreased hardness, chewiness and gumminess, but increased the rehydration of instant germinated brown rice. The effective moisture diffusivity increased with the far‐infrared intensity varying from 0.39 × 10−11 to 3.6 × 10−10 m2/s. The specific energy consumption at 5 kW/m2 far‐infrared intensity was 2.90 kWh/kg of water removed, resulting in a 66% energy saving when compared to 1 kW/m2 far‐infrared intensity.
Practical Applications
As an excellent source of nutrients, germinated brown rice has gained more attention than white rice. However, information on instant rice obtained from germinated brown rice is scarce. An alternative technique about instant germinated brown rice preparation was therefore proposed in this work. This study gives a method for the preparation for instant germinated brown rice, which would be a good choice for production of instant germinated brown rice in the industry.
Abstract. The objective of this research was to produce green fuel briquettes from corncobs by adding macadamia shell charcoal powder. The study was sectioned into 3 parts: 1) Quality improvement of green fuel briquettes by adding macadamia; 2) Fuel property analysis based on ASTM standards and thermal fuel efficiency; and 3) Economics appropriateness in producing green fuel briquettes. This research produced green fuel briquettes using the ratio of corncobs weight and macadamia shell charcoal powder in 100:0 90:10 80:20 70:30 60:40 and 50:50 and pressing in the cold briquette machine. Fuel property analysis showed that green fuel briquettes at the ratio 50:50 produced maximum heating values at 21.06 Megajoule per kilogram and briquette density of 725.18 kilograms per cubic meter, but the percent of moisture content, volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon were 10.09, 83.02, 2.17 and 4.72 respectively.The thermal efficiency of green fuel briquettes averaged 20.22%. Economics appropriateness was most effective where the ratio of corncobs weight to macadamia shell charcoal powder was at 50:50 which accounted for the cost per kilogram at 5.75 Baht. The net present value was at 1,791.25 Baht. Internal rate of return was at 8.62 and durations for a payback period of investment was at 1.9 years which was suitable for investment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.