Selection of a suitable drying model for drying Shatavari Roots (Asparagus Racemosus)

The effect of drying air temperatures on the drying kinetics of satavari (Asparagus Racemosus, family Asparagaceae Liliaceae) was investigated at Akola (Maharashtra) using different drying method. In order to select the appropriate drying model, mathematical drying models were fitted to the experimental data. Result indicated that the drying took place in the falling rate period. The average effective moisture diffusivity (Deff)avg values of shatavari roots varied considerably with moisture content and air drying temperature. The moisture diffusivity was found in the range of 1.01 × 10-7 to 9.20 × 10-8 for drying method. Midilli et al., and Page model had the highest R2and the lowest χ2 and RMSE values. The value of R2, χ2, and ERMS was found 0.997, 0.001 and 0.017 in Midilli et al. model and in the Page model the value of R2, χ2, and ERMS was found 0.997, 0.001 and 0.013.