Development and Performance Analysis of a New Solar Energy-Assisted Photocatalytic Dryer

A novel patented solar energy-assisted photocatalytic closed-type dryer (SEPCD) was developed to produce dried agro-foods without using chemical additives for antisepsis and/or color retention and to retain higher nutritive value of the fresh produce. The SEPCD was designed to simulate open sun drying with moving dry air and mild temperature. The air temperature in the drying cabinet is maintained at 40–45°C; it is supplied partially by a dehumidification system and partially by a solar energy system. Additionally, the inside of the cabinet was coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) to cause a bactericidal effect during the drying process. Results showed that the total mold and bacterial counts for the drying cabinet and dried pineapple slices are significantly reduced in the SEPCD while the dried food quality is also better than that dried by conventional hot air drying.

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