Desorption Isotherms for plantain at several temperatures

Abstract

Moisture equilibrium data for desorption of water from ripe and unripe plantain were obtained at 40⁰ , 50⁰ , 60⁰ and 70⁰C over a range of relative humidity from 10 to 90 percent, using a static gravimetric method. Ripe plantain exhibited higher equilibrium moisture content (EMC) than unripe plantain under the same conditions. A non-linear least square regression programme was used to fit 5 desorption isotherm models to the experimental data and the parameters of the models evaluated. Using the modified Halsey model, the minimum standard error of estimates of the EMC was 1.9% for ripe and 1.4% for unripe plantain.