STATISTICAL MODELLING AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSA PARADISIACA (UNRIPE PLANTAIN)
| PAGES = 50 | CHAPTER = 1 – 5 |
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Drying stands as one of the oldest and most crucial methods of food preservation known to humanity. This technique enhances food stability by significantly reducing moisture and microbial activity, thereby minimizing physical and chemical changes during storage.
Musa paradisiaca, commonly known as unripe plantain, is a staple food in Central and West Africa. Alongside bananas, it provides 60 million people with 25% of their daily caloric intake. The FAO reports that Nigeria alone produces over 2.11 million metric tons of plantain annually. For local consumption, plantain is vital for food and income security, holding promise for enhancing national food security and alleviating rural poverty.
Unripe plantains are rich in iron (Aremu et al., 1990). However, they are highly perishable due to their high moisture content and ongoing metabolic activity post-harvest (Demirel et al., 2003).
Furthermore, significant post-harvest losses, ranging from 35-60%, have been attributed to inadequate storage facilities and suboptimal food processing technologies. While air drying and sun drying are commonly employed methods for preserving unripe plantains, these techniques not only help in preservation but also add value to the plantain.
1.2 Problem Statement
Drying plays a crucial role in food preservation by significantly reducing the water activity of the product. Among the various preservation methods, hot air drying is particularly favored for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Thin layer drying is a prevalent technique for extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
However, the drying process is highly energy-intensive, which presents substantial industrial challenges. It is imperative that drying operations are conducted with optimal energy efficiency.
This project aims to identify the most effective thin layer drying model and determine the ideal temperature and slice thickness that minimize drying time.
1.3 Objectives of Study
The objectives of this study are to:
- Identify the thin-layer drying model that best matches the moisture ratio over time during the drying of unripe plantain.
- Determine the optimal temperature and slice thickness that achieve the shortest drying time.
1.4 Justification
Plantain production follows a seasonal pattern, while its consumption continues throughout the entire year. This mismatch creates a pressing need to address post-harvest losses by transforming plantains into forms with significantly reduced moisture content.
At the time of harvest, plantains contain a high level of moisture, making them highly perishable and unsuitable for preservation beyond a few days when stored under ambient conditions of 20°C – 25°C (Chua et al., 2001). This rapid deterioration leads to seasonal shortages and limits the availability of plantains for urban populations. The surplus production of plantains has been increasing steadily since 2001 (Dankye et al., 2007). By 2015, it is anticipated that surplus production will amount to approximately 852,000 metric tons. This surplus presents a challenge, as it requires either export, further processing, or, unfortunately, may result in waste.
Reducing the moisture content of plantains through drying can significantly extend their shelf life, thus preventing excessive post-harvest losses. Drying is particularly relevant for developing nations where poor storage infrastructure, unfavorable weather conditions, and inadequate processing facilities contribute to the rapid deterioration of agricultural products. By implementing effective drying techniques, these countries can better manage plantain surpluses, reduce waste, and improve food security.
1.5 Scope of Study
This project will comprehensively investigate the following aspects:
- Assessing and comparing ten different thin layer drying models to determine which model most accurately represents the data collected from drying unripe plantains. This evaluation will consider various temperatures, slice thicknesses, and drying durations to find the optimal conditions for preserving plantains.
- Employing regression analysis to identify the ideal combination of slice thickness and temperature that minimizes the drying time. This will involve detailed statistical analysis to determine the parameters that lead to the most efficient drying process, ensuring that plantains are preserved effectively with the least amount of time and energy.