Influence of drying temperature on anthocyanin and moisture contents in purple waxy corn kernel using a tunnel dryer
Suparerk Charmongkolpradit, Titikan Somboon, Ratchanee Phatchana, Wichien Sang‐aroon, Bhuchiss Tanwanichkul
Abstract
The effect of drying temperature on total anthocyanin and moisture contents in purple waxy corn kernel was investigated by using a tunnel dryer. The amount of anthocyanin and moisture content were studied with the relatively low drying temperature of 60–80 °C under controlling air velocity at 1.5 m/s. The experimental results reveal that moisture content in purple waxy corn kernel slightly decreases with time and the lowest moisture content obtained by using the present method is 13%wb (wet basis). The drying rate increases with increasing temperature and the highest rate is obtained at the temperature of 80 °C (0.1492% min−1). Total anthocyanin content in purple waxy corn kernel was strongly affected by the drying temperature and moisture content. The highest total anthocyanin content was obtained at the temperature of 65 °C with the moisture content of 13%wb, which is the best condition for preserving purple waxy corn kernel by using a tunnel dryer.