MODELING FOAM-MAT DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF BANANA UNDER MICROWAVE CONDITIONS.

In this study, it was aimed to dry banana using microwave-assisted foam-mat drying and to identify the drying behavior. Foam-mat drying of banana foam was made using a microwave oven at output power of 100, 180, 300, 450 and 600 W. Effective moisture diffusivities were obtained in the range of 5.9536 x 10-9 and 3.5692 x 10-8 m² s-1. Activation energy was determined as 10.80 W g-1 of microwave dried banana foam. Besides, to find the best model to experimental moisture ratio values, thin layer models of Page, Wang and Singh, Midilli and others, Silva and others, two-term and Peleg were applied. As a result, Midilli and others' model gave a better fit than others with highest value of R², lowest values of RMSE, RSS and X². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]