Abstract

Transition state theory was used to study enthalpy-entropy compensation for water loss during air drying of potato and apple slices. Slices of either potato or apple of 4-mm thickness, 40 mm diameter and air drying temperatures of 323, 333, 343, and 353 K were employed in the experiments. Moisture content and internal potato and apple slice temperatures were recorded during the drying runs. Water loss during drying was described by the unsteady-state Fick's equation and moisture diffusivity evolution was established by applying the method of the slopes. Thus, the experimental drying curve was compared to the theoretical diffusion curve, and the slope of the two curves were estimated at the same moisture content to in order give the corresponding value of diffusivity. During drying, the moisture diffusivity reached a maximum value as the water content of potato and apple slice was around 1 kg water/kg dry solid, regardless of the air temperature. The isokinetic temperature was found to be 320.2 and 312.8 K for potato and apple tissues, respectively. These values were greater than the experimental harmonic mean temperature, which was found to be 307.4 and 308.3 K for potato and apple tissues, respectively. Thus, it was concluded that the water loss process is enthalpy controlled.