LEMOS, D. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0029901311238371; LEMOS, Danielle Martins.
Resumo:
Given the scarcity of work on the noni seeds (Morinda citrifolia L.), researching about it
becomes relevant in order to estimate the useful life of this agricultural product, because of
its popularity and properties. The objective of this paper was to characterize and study the
drying kinetics in fixed bed dryer of noni seeds with and without fiber at temperatures of
40, 50, 60 and 70°C and 0.75 m/s as the average speed of drying air; evaluate the meal
stability of noni seeds stored in two types of packaging (plastic and laminated) for 60 days
at controlled temperature (30 ° C) and relative humidity (55%) and determine the moisture
adsorption isotherms at temperatures of 20, 30 and 40°C of seed meal with and without
fibers. The storage of data was submitted to a completely randomized design in a 7x2
factorial arrangement (7 storage times and 2 types of packaging) and averages comparison
by Tukey test at 5% probability. The results of the drying kinetics models were adjusted by
Henderson and Pabis, Two Terms, Logarithmic, Page and Thompson, obtaining
coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.81 and average quadratic deviation
(AQD) smaller than 0.58; whereas isotherms were adjusted for GAB, Peleg and Oswin
models, obtaining coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.97 and average
percentage deviations (P) lower than 10.05%. The presence of fibers resulted in an increase
in seed drying time. During the storage of fiber seed meal (FSM) and the fiber without
seed meal (FWS), there was an increase in water content, water activity and acidity, due to
the decreasing of pH for the two samples. With regard to color, SCF and SSF meal had
initially slight darkening, but stability during the days that followed the storage.