Effect of Moisture Content on the Thermal Properties of Horse-Eye Bean Seeds Relevant To Its Processing

Abstract

The specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the Horse-Eye bean (Mucuna sloanei) were determined as a function of moisture content using the method reported by A.O.A.C (2000). The sample varieties used were the Big Sized and the Small Sized Horse-Eye bean. The specific heat and the thermal conductivity were measured using a Bomb Calorimeter. The thermal diffusivity was calculated from the measured specific heat, thermal conductivity and bulk density of the samples. Within the moisture range of 10.5% to 16.87% (b.b), the specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity varied with the moisture content. Results showed that the specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the Horse-Eye bean seeds ranged from 116.76 to 203.29 kJ/kgK; 21.07 to 32.23 W/moC; and 3.12 x 10-7 to 9.19 x 10-7 m2/s, for the Big Sized varieties, and 112.06 to 194.61 kJ/kgK; 19.85 to 24.08 W/moC; and 3.05 x 10-7 to 6.71 x 10-7 m2/s, for the Small Sized varieties as the moisture content increases from 10.5% to 16.87%. Regression analysis were also carried out on the thermal properties of the Horse-Eye bean varieties and moisture content, and there was positive relationship between the parameters. There were significant effects of moisture content (p < 0.05) on all the parameters conducted. The findings and the data generated will create an impact in the food processing industries for Horse-Eye bean.

Specifična toplota, toplotna provodljivost i toplotna difuzivnost zrna Konjskog oka (Mucuna sloanei) utvrđene su u funkciji sadržaja vlage metodom koju je prikazao A.O.A.C (2000). Uzorci koji su korišćeni bili su zrna od kulture velikog i malog Konjskog oka (Mucuna sloanei). Specifična toplota i toplotna provodljivost izmereni su Bomb kalorimetrom. Termička difuzivnost izračunata je iz izmerene specifične toplote, toplotne provodljivosti i zapreminske težine uzoraka. Unutar intervala sadržaja vlage od 10,5% do 16,87%, variraju vrednosti: specifične toplote, toplotne provodljivosti i toplotne difuzivnosti u zavisnosti od sadržaja vlage. Rezultati su pokazali da se navedeni parametri zrna Konjskog oka (Mucuna sloanei) kreću u rasponu od 116.76 do 203.29 kJ/kgK; 21.07 do 32.23 W/moC; i 3.12 x 10-7 do 9.19 x 10-7 m2/s, za Big sized varijetet i vrednost od 112.06 do 194.61 kJ/kgK; 19.85 do 24.08 W/moC; i 3.05 x 10-7 do 6.71 x 10-7 m2/s, za varijetet Small sized, jer se sadržaj vlage povećava sa 10,5% na vrednost 16,87%. Regresiona analiza je takođe urađena sa faktorima termičkih osobina sorti zrna Konjskog oka (Mucuna sloanei) i sadržaja vlage, i između analiziranih parametara je postojala pozitivna veza. Ostvareni su značajni efekti sadržaja vlage (p <0,05) na sve istražene parametre. Nalazi i dobijeni podaci stvoriće pozitivan uticaj zrna Konjskog oka (Mucuna sloanei) u prehrambenoj industriji .