Performance of Drying Machine Based On Superabsorbent Polymer (Polygel): Polydryer

• Main Author: Ulfatun Nur Izzati - Nim: 13013014 , Alif
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/20952
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

As agrarian country, Indonesia has produced food and herbal product to fulfill export needs. Before product has been sold, food and herbs material should be treated in order to the quality of product has suitable with market needs. The method of treatment food can be used by drying. Drying food method in this research is using polygel as air dehumidifier. In this research, this experiment has been focused to modification of dryer based on polygel which called polydryer by finding out the best configuration; using the best configuration to drying rhizomes such as temulawak, temukunci, kencur, ginger, and galangal; also analyze the influence of air flow with variation 28.5 m3/h; 57.0 m3/h; 108.3 m3/h. <br /> <br /> <br /> The stages of experiment are preparation of material and polygel; testing dryer by determining configuration, material, and air flow. Analysis of material by determine moisture content, essential oil content, and ethanol solubility in Balittro, Bogor and morphology characterization by Scanning Electron Microscope; and making report. <br /> <br /> <br /> The best configuration in this experiment is using blower in the polygel box. Rhizomes drying has attain quality standard for four days except galangal (five days). Meanwhile, chilli needs high temperature to attain the quality of dried product. The result of air flow variation has showed that the fastest drying process has been took place when air volumetric 108.3 m3/h and followed by 57.0 m3/h. In that case, air flow velocity has influence against drying rate. Production of dried herbs is used by batch process <br /> <br />