Establishing moisture sorption isotherms of wild mushroom varieties using a dynamic vapor sorption method
- Publication Type
- Contribution to conference
- Authors
- Argyropoulos D; Alex R; Müller J
- Year of publication
- 2010
- Published in
- Proceedings of the XVIIth World Congress of the International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR)
- Page (from - to)
- 1-8
- Conference name
- XVIIth World Congress of the International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR) - Section VI: Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering
- Conference location
- Quebec City (Canada)
- Conference date
- 13-17 June 2010
Boletus edulis (Porcini), Cantharellus cibarius (chanterelle), Lentinula edodes (shiitake), Morchella deliciosa (Morel), and Tuber melanosporum (truffle) are mushrooms of considerable economic, commercial and gastronomic importance in international markets. The objective of this research was to investigate the moisture sorption behavior of various highly favored mushrooms at a temperature of 30 °C. Also, it was intended to produce equilibrium moisture content data of wild mushroom species, which has limited coverage in the literature. The samples were subjected to hot-air drying in an experimental laboratory dryer and were equilibrated in the range of 0.05-0.95 water activity using the dynamic vapor sorption method. The GAB equation was selected to fit the experimental data by non-linear regression analysis. The accuracy of fit was based on standard error, mean relative error, and coefficient of determination. The model predicted successfully the equilibrium moisture content of mushrooms. Sigmoid characteristic curves of sorption isotherms were obtained. This means that the equilibrium moisture content of mushrooms increases with an increase in water activity at constant temperature. Reliable equilibrium moisture content data on moisture sorption isotherms were provided which is essential for the optimization of different processes in the food industry.