Comparative analysis of drying kinetics, thermodynamic properties, and mathematical modeling of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.) in a hybrid solar dryer and an oven dryer.

ABSTRACT: Drying pomegranate peels, a by-product of juice extraction, offers an effective means to preserve bioactive compounds while reducing waste. This study investigates the influence of drying temperature and layer thickness on the drying kinetics, thermodynamic properties, and modeling of pomegranate peels using a hybrid solar dryer (HSD) and a conventional oven dryer (OD). Fresh peels with an average initial MC of 325.53% (dry basis) were dried under three temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C) and three-layer thicknesses (1, 2, and 3 cm). The HSD included a temperature and humidity control unit and an auxiliary electric heater to ensure stable conditions. Weight loss during drying was recorded at regular intervals to track moisture content changes until equilibrium MC (EMC) was reached. Experiment

SUBMITTER: Khater EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12276303 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature