Analysis of Drying of Organic Materials

 

Various plants, fruits, and vegetables contain a high concentration of organic substances that can be used as raw materials by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, such as essential oils, pectin, and other compounds of technological interest. However, these materials are highly perishable, making the application of adequate preservation techniques necessary.

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One of the main alternatives to prolong the shelf life of these materials is drying, a widely used unit operation in industry. However, this process can cause structural changes in the material, directly influencing heat and mass transfer phenomena and, consequently, the quality and availability of the compounds present.

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In this context, the present project aimed to study the influence of convective drying on the structure of organic materials from the agro-industrial sector, as well as to evaluate its effects on the extraction of substances of interest, such as essential oils, pectin, and other organic compounds.

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To achieve this, convective drying experiments were conducted, varying operational parameters such as temperature and drying air velocity. From these tests, changes in the physical, thermal, and chemical properties of the material were analyzed, and the influence of these changes on the extraction of organic substances was investigated.

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The results obtained contribute to expanding knowledge about the behavior of organic materials during drying and to optimizing processes for the utilization of value-added compounds derived from agro-industrial residues or raw materials.

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Status: Completed
Nature: Research

Members: Ariany Binda Silva Costa (Coordinator); Robson Costa de Sousa; Fernanda Falqueto Salvador; Lucas Martins Inez; Matheus Melo da Silva; Carolayne Gauda da Silva; Mateus Sales Neves; Victor Junior Vieira Silva; Nathália Poyes; Maressa de Oliveira Camillo.