ABSTRACT This study aimed to fit mathematical models to whey foam drying processes in different air temperature conditions, to determine the effective diffusion coefficient and to obtain the activation energy. For foam formation, 5.0% Emustab® was added to the serum in mass and subjected to stirring in a domestic shaker for 15 min. After, it was spread onto trays to form a thin layer of about 1 cm in which the drying conditions were: 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 °C, 5.6 m s-1 and 60%. The Logarithm and Midilli models describe the kinetics of serum foam drying; the effective diffusion coefficient increased with the elevation of drying temperature and activation energy of 50.84 kJ mol-1.

ABSTRACT In drying processes and in the storage of agricultural products, the study of thermodynamic properties is indispensable in the search for solutions to issues of stability and optimization of the conditions of agro-industrial processes. The aim of this work was to determine hygroscopic equilibrium isotherms and study the thermodynamic properties of white bean grains submitted to different equilibrium temperatures and relative humidity levels. Phaseolus vulgaris L. grains were used, with an initial water content of 0.142 (dry basis), temperature variations ranging between 18 and 50 °C, and relative humidity between 19% and 78%. Fifteen mathematical models were tested to determine the hygroscopic equilibrium isotherms, and the Sigma model was the one that best suited the experimental data. The thermodynamic properties of the beans were determined from Sigma-Copace model. The integral isosteric heat of desorption and the differential entropy increased with the reduction of the water content, and the phenomenon of water desorption of white bean grains was a non-spontaneous process controlled by enthalpy.

RESUMO O estudo das propriedades termodinâmicas proporciona o conhecimento da afinidade do sorvente pela água e da espontaneidade do processo de sorção, sendo importante para projetar equipamentos de secagem e predizer o comportamento higroscópico durante o armazenamento. Este trabalho visou a determinar e avaliar isotermas de equilíbrio higroscópico e propriedades termodinâmicas, para diferentes condições de equilíbrio (teores de água e temperaturas) em sementes de girassol, utilizando-se o método estático indireto. Foram utilizadas sementes de girassol com teor inicial de água de 0,164 (decimal, base seca - b.s). Foram testados quinze modelos matemáticos para modelagem de equilíbrio higroscópico, sendo que o modelo de Smith foi o que apresentou melhor ajuste. Verificou-se que as propriedades termodinâmicas foram influenciadas pelo teor de água, o calor isostérico integral de dessorção aumentou com o decréscimo do teor de água de equilíbrio, variando de 1,787 a 2,670 kJ kg-1 para 0,198 a 0,0518 (decimal, b.s.), respectivamente, o processo de dessorção das sementes de girassol foi controlado pela entalpia e a energia livre de Gibbs, que variou de 3,6363 a 200,1730 kJ kg-1, foi positiva para as temperaturas estudadas, com aumento ao longo do processo de dessorção, demonstrando ser um processo não espontâneo.

ABSTRACT The study of the thermodynamic properties provides the knowledge of the sorbent affinity by the water and the spontaneity of the sorption process, important to design drying equipment and to predict hygroscopic behavior during storage. This work aimed to determine and evaluate isotherms of hygroscopic equilibrium and thermodynamic properties for different equilibrium conditions (water contents and temperatures) in sunflower seeds, using the indirect static method. Sunflower seeds with initial water content of 0.164 (decimal, dry basis - d.b.) were used. Fifteen mathematical models were tested for hygroscopic equilibrium modeling, and the Smith model presented the best fit. It was verified that the thermodynamic properties were influenced by the water content, the integral isosteric desorption heat increased with the decrease of the equilibrium water content, ranging from 1.787 to 2.670 kJ kg-1 to 0.198 to 0.0518 (decimal, d.b.), respectively, the desorption process of the sunflower seeds was controlled by the enthalpy and the Gibbs free energy, which varied from 3.6363 to 200.1730 kJ kg-1, was positive for the temperatures studied, with increase to during the desorption process, proving to be a non-spontaneous process.