| Author | Chinthaka Karunaratne |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-91-19 |
| Subject(s) | Cardamoms
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for
the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The preservation of commercial quality standards of cardamoms during
drying and processing is important to obtain premium prices in the export
market of producing countries. Details of optimum processing parameters need
to be established to continuously produce high quality processed cardamom.
This study was made to test effects of drying temperatures and chemical
pre- treatments on the accepted quality standards of cardamom. The cardamom
capsules were treated with 2 % sodium carbonate and oven dried at
temperatures of 35°C, 45°C and 55°C. A drying treatment having a 24-hour lag
phase was also studied under the given temperatures. Tests on % moisture
content, % chlorophyll removal, total oil and essential oil content, % splits
and % out- turn were done to determine quality variations in all chemically
treated and non- treated cardamom, based on commercially accepted quality
standards. Similar studies were done with untreated cardamom.
The drying data was fitted to an exponential drying model to obtain the
empirical drying constant and drying exponent. The chlorophyll content was
best retained in the chemically treated cardamom at a 45 °C drying
temperature. The loss in total oil content was minimum at the chemically
treated treatment at a 45°C drying temperature. The maximum terpenoids were
retained at the 45°C untreated sample. The % splits were the least at the
45°C untreated continuously dried sample. The % out turn was highest at the
45 °C chemically treated sample. The recommended treatment conditions to meet
the stipulated quality trade standards were found to be 45°C chemically
treated continuously dried sample. |
| Year | 1991 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ilangantileke, S.G.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Jindal, Vinod Kumar;Athapol Noomhorm; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Britain; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991 |