DRYING, COLOUR AND REHYDRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF ORANGE SLICES UNDER INFRARED RADIATION HEATING

The effect of different infrared (IR) powers on drying of orange slices was investigated in infrared dryer. The orange slices dried at 62, 74 and 88 W infrared powers and constant slice thickness of 6 mm. Results showed that drying, colour and rehydration characteristics of orange slices were greatly influenced by infrared power. The drying data were fitted with five mathematical models available in the literature. Based on the statistical tests applied to make an assessment, the model of Midilli and Kucuk was found to satisfactorily explain drying kinetics of orange slices for all drying conditions. The Fick’s diffusion model was used to calculate the effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) of orange slices. The value of Deff varied from 1.59×10-10 to 2.49×10-10 m2/s. It was found that the effective moisture diffusivities increased with increasing IR power. Activation energy was estimated by a modified Arrhenius type equation as 2.11 kW/kg. As the infrared power increased, the rehydration ratio was found to be reduced. Furthermore, with increase of infrared power, the values of a and DE increased, whereas the values of L, b and C decreased.

Rapid formation methods of arrays of randomly distributed Au and Ag nanoparticles, their morphologies and optical characteristics

By the method of rapid radiation heating (at a speed of 20-25 K/s) of Au and Ag films with a thickness of 4-35 nm to temperatures of 573-693 K in air and in the process of vacuum deposition of silver on heated (up to 700 K at a heating rate of 10 K/s ) glass substrates formed Au and Ag NPs arrays with nanoparticle sizes from several tens to hundreds of nanometers, the position λSPR of which is in the range of 520-597 nm for Au NPs and 424-509 nm for Ag NPs. It is established that the average size of nanoparticles depends on the thickness of gold and silver films and the annealing temperature. The results testify that glass substrates with arrays of randomly distributed gold NPs can be used as effective SERS-substrates for the investigation of Raman spectra of nanosized (50-100 nm) chalcogenide films.

Analysis of temperature measuring error in high-temperature ceramic samples with various methods of thermocouple fixing

The evaluation of methodological errors in measuring the temperature of nitride ceramics under unilateral heating by high-intensity heat flow was carried out. Simulation of thermal processes in the temperature sensor — sample system was performed using the Siemens PLMNX program. Various methods of fixing platinum-rhodium thermocouples with a diameter of 0.1 mm on the surface and inside the samples have been investigated. The regularities of the influence of the size of the hot junction, the presence of thermal cement, the shape of the grooves for fixing thermocouples on the methodological error of temperature measurement were investigated. Significant errors were revealed when installing thermocouples on the surface of the sample without violating its integrity. Recommendations for the installation of thermocouples were given. The results of the paper can be useful in the preparation of experimental samples for thermal tests on radiation heating stands.

Microwave Radiation Influence on Dairy Waste Anaerobic Digestion in a Multi-Section Hybrid Anaerobic Reactor (M-SHAR)

Whey is a primary by-product of dairy plants, and one that is often difficult to manage. As whey processing units are costly and complicated, only 15–20% of whey is recycled for use in the food industry. The difficulties in managing waste whey are particularly pronounced for small, local dairy plants. One possible solution to this problem is to use advanced and efficient digesters. The aim of this study was to present an innovative multi-section hybrid anaerobic bioreactor (M-SHAR) design and to identify how microwave radiation heating (MRH) affects methane fermentation of liquid dairy waste (LDW) primarily composed of acid whey. The MRH reactor was found to perform better in terms of COD removal and biogas production compared with the convection-heated reactor. The heating method had a significant differentiating effect at higher organic load rates (OLRs). With OLRs ranging from 15 to 25 kgCOD∙m−3∙d−1, the M-SHAR with MRH ensured a 5% higher COD removal efficiency and 12–20% higher biogas yields.