MODELLING OF DESORPTION ISOTHERMS OF CHESTNUT: INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND EVALUATION OF ISOSTERIC HEATS

Abstract

The desorption isotherms of chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill) were determined at 278, 293, 303, 313, and 323K by a gravimetric technique. The range of water activity was from 0.08 at 0.91. The sorption isotherms were of the type II according to Brunauer's classification. The effect of the temperature shows a cross over of the desorption isotherms at water activity 0.6. The experimental data are fitted with several models (Oswin, Smith, Henderson, Halsey, and G.A.B.). Oswin and G.A.B. models gave the best fittings. Particularly, with G.A.B. model parameters some interesting information as monolayer moisture content, heat of sorption of the first and nth layer adsorbed and net isosteric heat were obtained.