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Validation of a Passive Solar Drying System Using Pineapple
Katie Kuhn1, Charles Strnad1, Paige Bowman1
1Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Program, Physics and Chemistry Department, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 16, 2024
Summary
The Agricycle passive solar drier offers a cost-effective solution for preserving produce in Sub-Saharan Africa. While some nutrient loss occurred, solar-dried fruits met safety standards, showing promise for food preservation.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Engineering
- Food Science
- Postharvest Technology
Background:
- Significant postharvest produce losses occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, nearing 50% before market.
- Developing cost-effective preservation methods is crucial to mitigate food waste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Agricycle passive solar drier for fruit preservation.
- To compare the nutritional and quality attributes of solar-dried produce with freeze-dried samples.
Main Methods:
- Simulated Sub-Saharan Africa environment using a psychrometric chamber.
- Analysis of vitamin C, total phenolics, iron, microbial content, water content, dissolved solids, color, and microstructure.
- Comparison with freeze-dried and fresh produce.
Main Results:
- Nutritional content (vitamin C, phenolics, iron) was comparable, though vitamin C showed a significant loss.
- Solar-dried samples had microbial content below standard limits and approximately 10% water content.
- Significant differences in color and microstructure were observed between solar-dried and freeze-dried samples.
Conclusions:
- The Agricycle passive solar drier is a viable and promising technology for food preservation.
- It offers a cost-effective alternative for reducing postharvest losses in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.
