| ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of using infrared radiation in the hot-air drying of Moringa oleifera grains on the inner dryer and grain temperatures, energy consumption, and grain quality. An experiment was conducted in a factorial scheme in 2013 to identify the optimum values of the air temperature (30 to 58 ºC) and infrared radiation application time (2.0 to 4.8 min) on moisture content, drying time, drying rate, inner dryer air temperature, grain temperature, energy consumption and quality of grains used as a natural coagulant for water treatment. The results obtained were moisture content from 4.40 to 4.76% wet basis; drying time from 0.50 to 2.00 h; drying rates from 0.70 × 10-3 to 2.05 × 10-3 kgwater kg-1 dry matter min-1; inner... |
