Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying

Traditional open sun drying methods face issues such as weather dependence, contamination risk, inconsistent drying rates, and nutrient loss. This study investigates a novel photovoltaic (PV)-integrated solar dryer designed to improve seaweed drying efficiency by effectively removing moisture conten...

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Main Authors: Khan, Nida, Sudhakar, Kumarasamy, Rizalman, Mamat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/1/Seaweed%20processing_efficiency%2C%20kinetics%2C%20and%20quality%20attributes%20under%20solar%20drying.pdf
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author Khan, Nida
Sudhakar, Kumarasamy
Rizalman, Mamat
author_facet Khan, Nida
Sudhakar, Kumarasamy
Rizalman, Mamat
author_sort Khan, Nida
building UMP Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Traditional open sun drying methods face issues such as weather dependence, contamination risk, inconsistent drying rates, and nutrient loss. This study investigates a novel photovoltaic (PV)-integrated solar dryer designed to improve seaweed drying efficiency by effectively removing moisture content. Addressing the needs of Malaysian seaweed growers for a reliable and efficient drying method, this research compares conventional open sun drying with solar drying by evaluating key parameters such as moisture removal rate, drying rate, and dryer efficiency. Using a sample size of 100 grams, experimental results demonstrated that moisture loss was higher with solar drying, resulting in significantly lower final weights for Sargassum polycystum (43.8 g) and Cystoseira barbata (40.1 g) compared to open sun drying (55.81 g and 52.9 g, respectively). The drying rate for seaweed in the solar dryer was also higher, with Sargassum polycystum at 7.03 g/hr and Cystoseira barbata at 7.5 g/hr, compared to 5.52 g/hr and 5.89 g/hr for open sun drying. Additionally, the drying efficiency of the solar dryer outperformed open sun drying, with Sargassum polycystum achieving 9.52 % and Cystoseira barbata 10.13 %, compared to 7.4 % and 7.9 %, respectively, for open sun drying. Economic analysis revealed an estimated annual profit of USD 2270, indicating the economic viability of the proposed system. The findings suggest that the PV-integrated solar dryer offers a promising alternative to traditional drying methods, providing enhanced efficiency and economic benefits for seaweed farmers.
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spelling ump-431392025-03-12T03:06:59Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/ Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying Khan, Nida Sudhakar, Kumarasamy Rizalman, Mamat TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery Traditional open sun drying methods face issues such as weather dependence, contamination risk, inconsistent drying rates, and nutrient loss. This study investigates a novel photovoltaic (PV)-integrated solar dryer designed to improve seaweed drying efficiency by effectively removing moisture content. Addressing the needs of Malaysian seaweed growers for a reliable and efficient drying method, this research compares conventional open sun drying with solar drying by evaluating key parameters such as moisture removal rate, drying rate, and dryer efficiency. Using a sample size of 100 grams, experimental results demonstrated that moisture loss was higher with solar drying, resulting in significantly lower final weights for Sargassum polycystum (43.8 g) and Cystoseira barbata (40.1 g) compared to open sun drying (55.81 g and 52.9 g, respectively). The drying rate for seaweed in the solar dryer was also higher, with Sargassum polycystum at 7.03 g/hr and Cystoseira barbata at 7.5 g/hr, compared to 5.52 g/hr and 5.89 g/hr for open sun drying. Additionally, the drying efficiency of the solar dryer outperformed open sun drying, with Sargassum polycystum achieving 9.52 % and Cystoseira barbata 10.13 %, compared to 7.4 % and 7.9 %, respectively, for open sun drying. Economic analysis revealed an estimated annual profit of USD 2270, indicating the economic viability of the proposed system. The findings suggest that the PV-integrated solar dryer offers a promising alternative to traditional drying methods, providing enhanced efficiency and economic benefits for seaweed farmers. Elsevier Ltd 2025-03 Article PeerReviewed pdf en cc_by_nc_4 http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/1/Seaweed%20processing_efficiency%2C%20kinetics%2C%20and%20quality%20attributes%20under%20solar%20drying.pdf Khan, Nida and Sudhakar, Kumarasamy and Rizalman, Mamat (2025) Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying. Food Chemistry Advances, 6 (100859). pp. 1-10. ISSN 2772-753X. (Published) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100859 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100859
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Khan, Nida
Sudhakar, Kumarasamy
Rizalman, Mamat
Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title_full Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title_fullStr Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title_full_unstemmed Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title_short Seaweed processing: Efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
title_sort seaweed processing: efficiency, kinetics, and quality attributes under solar drying
topic TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
url http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43139/1/Seaweed%20processing_efficiency%2C%20kinetics%2C%20and%20quality%20attributes%20under%20solar%20drying.pdf