Thermal Analysis of Sclerotium of <i>Pleurotus tuber-regium</i> (osu) for Effective Drying

Abstract

Thermal drying could lead to the deterioration of substance which affect its nutraceutical and chemical properties. Hence, thermal stability of substance is necessary in course of its drying to acertain the degree of temperature it will be subjected to. In this research, sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium is subjected to thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Both thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis were conducted from ambient temperature to 1000˚C at a rate of 20˚C/min constant heating rate, while differential scanning calorimetry was conducted from ambient temperature to 400˚C at a rate of 10˚C/min constant heating rate. Besides, the oxides contents of sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium were determined using x-ray fluorescence analysis and the mircostruture was determined with scanning electron microscopy. It was discovered that complete dehydration of the sample ended at about 110.38˚C and oxidation reaction occurred between 233.42˚C to 373.82˚C with release of heat by the sample. Sclerotium of Pleurotus tuber-regium is thermal stable up to 233.42˚C with decompostion of steroid which is its second major component at about 400˚C to 480˚C. The x-ray fluorescence analysis of sclerotium of Pleurotus tuber-regium revealed that Na 2 O, MgO, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 are the major compound and SEM analysis showed that it is a solid with amorphous structure having some fibrous skeleton. This study revealed that sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium could be dried to minimal moisture content without the deterioration of its nutritional and medinicnal properties.