Fluidized Bed Drying of Aonla (Emblica officinalis)

In the present work an attempt has been made to study the dehydration of aonla (Indian gooseberry) fruits. Aonla fruits, being highly perishable, cannot be kept for long periods. Aonla contains a very high amount of vitamin C, which is highly volatile and susceptible to heat. Sun drying required the longest period of drying (660 min), while the shortest time of drying is with fluidized bed drying at 80°C with 115 m/min air velocity (120 min). The results indicate that there is great loss of most of the ascorbic acid in the aonla slices. This suggests that the drying exposure caused the loss of volatile biochemical compounds. The retention of ascorbic acid in the samples dried in fluidized bed drying is greater compared to those dried under sun and hot air tray.