Water Sorption Isotherm and Drying Characteristics of Tomato Seeds

Seeds were separated from tomato waste by sedimentation and dried in cabinet/fluidised bed dryers at 50, 70 and 90oC using tray load of 4, 8 and 12 kg m−2. Sorption isotherms were obtained at 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70°C by the static method using saturated salt solutions. The Hendersonʹs model described the sorption isotherm, adequately, over the entire temperature range. Drying rates indicated that the drying of tomato seeds took place under the falling rate period and the drying behaviour was well described by Pageʹs model. Dependence of the rate constant on air temperature was described by Arrhenius type relationship.