Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

In this experiment, thin-layer drying parameterization of freshwater clams was conducted. This was done as a function of drying air temperatures (70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 and 110^oC), with the view of determining the appropriate model to predict the drying kinetics. The drying data obtained were fitted into five thin-layer drying models, namely Page, Lewis, Henderson-Pabis, Wang and Singh, and Diamante models. The various drying constants and coefficients were evaluated and statistical results show that Diamante model with highest R² and lowest χ² and RMSE values is adjudged the best model to predict the drying behavior of freshwater clam at the drying conditions. Effective moisture diffusivity which was determined by Fick’s second law and slope method ranged from 2.226x10^-4 to 8.888x10^-4 m²/s. The temperature dependence of effective moisture diffusivity obeyed the Arrhenius law with activation energy of 1.69KJ/mol.