Drying of Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire by Microwave Radiation

R. L. PASSARDI; C. E. SCHVEZOV,; M. E. SCHMALKO; A. D. GONZÁLEZ

DRYING TECHNOLOGY

TAYLOR AND FRANCIS

Año: 2005 p. 1 - 10

0737-3937

Samples of yerba maté or Ilex Paraguarienses Saint Hillaire are dried using microwave radiation at a laboratory scale. The sample temperature evolution is determined as well as the moisture content rate in the relative and absolute base. In addition, the effective absorbed energy is determined for the experimental set up. The main results show that the process is viable and the product is acceptable for use. There is an advantadge with respect to conventional drying since blanching and drying can be done in one step. The process is highly efficient since more than 80 % of the effective microwave energy is used. The evaporation of free water for the experimental conditions is nearly uniform for leaves, twigs and branches. The temperature during evaporation of the free waterdepends on the nature of the sample being higher for the thicker twigs, the temperature is self adjusted and remains constant.The process is believed to be controlled by the input energy (energy transport) and not by mass transfer.