Moisture Sorption Isotherms of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Several Temperatures

K. T. DINKOV, D. I. GELYAZKOV and N. D. MENKOV

Higher Institute of Food Industry, Departament of Process Engineering, BG-4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Abstract

DINKOV, K. T., D. I. GELYAZKOV and N. D. MENKOV, 2000. Moisture sorption isotherms of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at several temperatures. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 6: 59-63

The equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) in common bean seeds were determined using the gravimetric static method at 5, 20, 40 and 60 ⁰C over a range of relative humidities (RH) from 0.110 to 0.877. The sorption capacity of seeds decreased with the increase in temperature at constant RH. Five models, modified Chung-Pfost, modified Halsey, modified Oswin, modified Henderson, and GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer) were applied to analyze the experimental data. The GAB model was found to be the most suitable for describing the EMC/RH relationship.

Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris L., equilibrium, sorption isotherm, model