ABSTRACT

This work reports the efficient drying behavior of Indian
red chilli dried in a controlled greenhouse dryer under solar radiation
in tropical summer conditions. A comparative study has been carried
out on drying kinetics and the quality of red chilli in a solar hybrid
greenhouse dryer and open sun. The desirable moisture content (%)
was achieved with a rapid drying rate in active drying (18.67 % in 9
h) compared to passive drying (24.24 % in 12 h) and open sun
(24.24 % in 24 h) drying conditions. Further, FTIR analysis identified
the presence of functional groups (Capsaicinoids and
dihydrocapsaicinoids) of red chilli dried in solar hybrid greenhouse
dryer.
Keywords : Solar Hybrid Greenhouse Dryer, Red chilli, Open Sun
Drying, Drying Rate, Functional groups
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