Investigation of osmosonication pretreated chili (Capsicum frutescensL.) drying in solar‐assisted fluidized bed dryer utilizing dehumidified air.

The heat and moisture sensitivity of spices and a consistent supply of electrical energy is the challenging factors in developing a relevant drying system for rural applications. A novel solar‐assisted fluidized bed dryer was developed for drying locally harvested unique spices like bird's eye chili (Capsicum frutescens L.). The chili was pretreated by the osmosonication method prior to drying to expedite the elimination of intercellular and intracellular moisture. In order to make the dryer more reliable, the recirculation strategy and dehumidified air supplied by liquid desiccant were acclimatized to constrict the heat loss through outflowing moist drying air. The experiments were conducted up to the permissible water activity (0.4–0.6) under variable drying conditions (50–70°C). By raising the ambient inlet temperature (maximum 25.9°C), the developed solar FBD was able to supply the drying air up to 50°C (in continuous mode) and a maximum of up to 65°C without aiding any heat energy sources except solar. It was found that osmosonication opened up the possibility of reducing the required drying temperature (↓10°C) and energy consumption (up to ↓31.7%). The dried red chili was fortified by pretreatment, as it could retain more capsaicin (>6%) and reddishness (>5%) compared to untreated samples. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed the structural integrity of pretreated samples. The relative humidity of the drying air could be reduced by as much as 5% using the composite lithium chloride and calcium chloride (35% + 5%) desiccant dehumidifier. Dehumidification of air was found advantageous, with an inclination to shorten the drying duration (about ↓0.5 h) and energy (↓12.43%). Practical Applications: There are various commercially valuable unique agro‐products that are exclusively being produced in rural areas. The inaccessibility of relevant drying technology and inconsistency of grid electricity are the main constraints in the value addition of those products. Open sun drying is most popular in rural areas; however, it is not reliable, and the product quality can't maintain. The developed solar‐assisted fluidized bed dryer utilizing dehumidifying air and integrated with osmosonication pretreatment could be a relevant technology for drying heat and moisture‐sensitive products like spices. Cost‐effective drying using locally accessible solar energy compared to open sun drying and superior dried product quality can be achieved by using the current drying system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]