Vol. 11, Issue 3 (2022)

Author(s):
Nikita Mishra, SK Jain and Yogendra Kumar Jyoti

Abstract:
Drumstick (Moringa oleifera) is an under exploited perennial vegetable species of moringaceae family, native to the Sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Fluidized bed drying and tray drying of moringa leaves were conducted at 40, 50 & 60°C air temperature to evaluate the drying kinetics. The average value of moisture content for fresh moringa leaves was observed to be 218.47% (db) for controlled sample, 269% (db) for water blanched sample and 290.63% (db) for chemical blanched sample. The moisture content of moringa leaves decreased with drying time under all drying condition. Moisture removal at 60 ºC was higher and faster than the other investigated temperature. It can be easily observed that the dehydration ratio decreased with increase in drying air temperatures for water blanched and chemical blanched samples, however, dehydration ratio was less for blanched samples when compared with control samples.