Development and Quality Analysis of a Direct Solar Dryer for Fish
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Date
2018-05-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
The study investigates drying characteristics of common species of fish in the
tropics, catfish (Clarias gariepinus ) and tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus )
using a direct solar dryer. The drying process was carried out during the dry
and wet season under natural (0 m/s) and forced convective drying (1.5 m/s,
2.5 m/s, 3.5 m/s fan speed). Results obtained showed that the drying air attained
by the dryer was satisfactory and the maximum temperature difference
between the dryer and the ambient temperatures was 35˚C. The moisture
content of the dried samples was 13.97% for catfish and 13.35% for tilapia fish
during dry season and during the wet season it was 15.68% for catfish and
14.9% for tilapia fish while for the open sun dried samples it was 21.7% for
catfish and 17.0% for tilapia fish. Maximum drying efficiency of 74.3% was
recorded for the dryer during dry season and the dried samples at 3.5 m/s fan
speed were better in drying rates. The proximate compositions of the fish before
and after drying were determined. There was significant difference in
proximate composition before and after drying (P < 0.05) and no significant
difference in proximate composition at fan speeds considered for both fish
species (P < 0.05).
Description
Keywords
Solar Dryer, Fish, Moisture Content, Drying Rate, Drying Efficiency
Citation
Obayopo, S.O. and Alonge, O.I. (2018) Development and Quality Analysis of a Direct Solar Dryer for Fish. Food and Nutrition Sciences , 9, 474-488.