AJUSTES DE MODELOS MATEMÁTICOS NA SECAGEM DE FOLHAS DE CHICÓRIA (Cichoruim intybus)

Abstract

The present work evaluated the drying kinetics of chicory leaves at different prices and obtained the adjustment of the experimental data according to mathematical models. For this, the chicory leaves were dried in perforated trays at temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80º C. A randomized block design was used, with three replications, placing approximately 100 g of new leaves in each tray. The adjustments of the mathematical models were performed according to the experimental data and from them, a non-linear regression analysis was performed, using the Gauss-Newton and Quasi-Newton methods, through the program statistic, which was adjusted by temperature values of the drying air. The mathematical models of Midilli, Logarithmic and Valcam were the ones that best fit the drying curves of chicory leaves for all conditions. The Logarithmic model was used to estimate the drying kinetics of chicory leaves, as it presented the best results in the statistical parameters taken.