DRYING OF COCONUT COPRA (COCOS NUCIFERA) AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE THROUGH ADSORPTIVE DRYING PROCESS

• Main Author: Qurratu A'yun, Fatimah
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/87795
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Indonesia, as a tropical country, considers coconut (Cocos nucifera) as one of its high­ economic-value commodities, particularly through its derivative products such as coconut oil derived from copra. The drying process of copra is a critical step to reduce moisture content, prevent microbial deterioration, and improve the quality and economic value of the product. Conventional drying methods, such as sun drying, have limitations, including prolonged processing time, extensive space requirements, and uneven drying results. As an alternative, the adsorptive drying method utilizing silica gel as an adsorbent presents potential for enhancing the efficiency and quality of the drying process. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the amount of adsorbent and the interval of adsorbent regeneration on the copra drying process using an adsorptive dryer. The experimental methodology involved the use of an adsorption dryer based on airflow at ambient temperature, with silica gel as the adsorbent to absorb water vapor. Data on the mass changes of copra and adsorbent were recorded periodically until 7 hours drying. Variations in the amount of adsorbent and the regeneration interval were tested to determine their impact on the drying rate. The results indicate that the effectiveness of adsorptive drying is influenced by the amount of adsorbent, the frequency of adsorbent regeneration, and the material's structure. While a higher amount of adsorbent and more frequent regeneration enhance water absorption capacity, the diffusion rate of water vapor from within the material remains the primary limiting factor, particularly during the final stages of the drying process.