Physicochemical characteristics of dried ivy gourd in a single slope solar dryer

Abstract

Ivy gourd with a good amount of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) offers greater benefit to human health. Studying the drying mechanism of fresh ivy gourd is very important for subsequent processes and the quality of the product. The present study is intended to perform a mineral analysis (K and Ca), ash content and color parameter (L*, a*, b*, C*, H*, and whiteness and yellowness index) of solar‐dried ivy gourd. Drying experiments are performed in a single slope solar dryer and open sun drying. During the drying process, the temperature of the dryer is maintained from 45 to 75°C, undergoing forced convection drying (air velocity of 1 m/s). Fresh and dried ivy gourd samples had high amounts of Ca (379.26–4992.24 mg/kg) and K (330.63–14690.24 mg/kg). The highest mineral values were determined in the ivy gourd samples dried inside a forced convection solar dryer. Open sun (L*43.29, a*−0.57, b*16.78, C*16.78, h*88.05), natural convection (L*41.74, a*−1.74, b*15.82, C*15.98, h*83.54) and forced convection (L*41.72, a*−2.02, b*15.81, C*15.94, h*82.72) revealed better color values in the dried ivy gourd samples. The moisture is reduced from 93.5% to 10% wet basis in the natural and forced convection solar dryer within 9 and 6 h, whereas it took 10 h under open sun drying. Forced convection solar dryer dried the ivy gourd sample in a minimal time with better mineral retention and color parameter values when compared to natural and open sun‐dried samples.

Drying characteristics and kinetics of bottle gourd using stand-alone indirect solar dryer

“…Moreover, The direct sun drying showed greater b* and hue values than indirect solar dryer. Same result was found by Elangovan and Natarajan (2022) that the b* and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 07 frontiersin.org hue values of dried ivy gourd sample with open drying was higher than natural and forced convection drying. In addition, the color difference showed highest change with direct sun drying compare with other drying methods.…”

Recent Developments in Design and Operations of Solar dryer.

“…The combined process of pretreatment and drying assures better antioxidant property, least color difference, and good preservation of products. Elangovan et al [28] study, the effects of pre-treatment of the red decca (or red banana) by in solutions with ascorbic acid, honey, sugar syrup and lemon juice. The best result was achieved when red decca was dipped in ascorbic acid and lemon juice as it has a higher impact on moisture loss.…”

Potential application of domestic solar dryers for coriander leaves: Drying kinetics, thermal efficiency, and quality assessment

“…According to the findings, ascorbic acid treated samples had the best effective moisture diffusivity and the lowest activation energy, whereas honey treated samples had higher sensory quality. While using single slope solar dryer and open sun drying for dehydration of ivy gourd, Elangovan and Natarajan 20 found that highest mineral values were obtained for samples dried inside a forced convection solar dryer. Also, forced convection solar dryer dried the ivy gourd sample in a minimal time with better color parameter values when compared to open sun‐dried samples.…”