Journal of Researches in Mechanics of Agricultural Machinery

Journal of Researches in Mechanics of Agricultural Machinery

Change of the most important quality characteristics of Estameran date affected by moisture and temperature Variation during three months of storage

Authors
majid rahnama
mohammad hadi khoshtaghaza
barat ghobadian
movahed sepahvand
Abstract
Due to non uniformity of date palm moisture content during harvesting and unsuitable processing and infection during storage, export of this product has great problems. Using dryer with applying heat treatments is a suitable method for moisture uniformity and disinfection. In this study, moisture content of Estameran dates will be controlled by solar energy, with the reservation of its quality properties. The equilibrium moisture content of Estamaran date was obtained to be 14, 16 and 18% (d.b.) at the temperature levels of 40, 50, 60, 70oC using the dryer. The effects of applied treatments on the qualitative and quantitative parameters (pH, percent of skin loss, total sugar and total soluble solid) of samples were investigated during the 3-month period of storage. Results showed the amount of pH decreased with increasing amount of moisture content and moisture and heat treatment caused the amount of TSS doesn’t increased (compared with control sample). The effect of all treatment on percent of total sugar and heat and moisture treatments on percent of skin loss was not significant.
Keywords
Total sugar.-Desiccant wheel-Solar Dryer-Disinfection-