TY - JOUR ID - 28216 TI - Drying of Matricaria recutita Flowers in Vibrofluidized Bed Dryer: Optimization of Drying Conditions Using Response Surface Methodology JO - Iranian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering JA - IJCCE LA - en SN - 1021-9986 AU - Zamani, Sahar AU - Rahimi, Mahmood Reza AU - Sadeghi, Hossein AD - Processes Intensification Research Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yasouj University, P.O. Box 75918-74831 Yasouj, I.R. IRAN AD - Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 75917-41417 Yasuj, I.R. IRAN Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 37 IS - 4 SP - 221 EP - 233 KW - Matricaria recutita flower KW - Response surface methodology KW - Vibrofluidized bed dryer KW - Moisture removal KW - thermal efficiency DO - 10.30492/ijcce.2018.28216 N2 - Drying of Matricaria recutita flower was investigated experimentally in a VibroFluidized Bed Dryer (VFBD). The aim of the present work was to optimize the best operating conditions for the drying of Matricaria recutita flower in the VFBD based on experimental design techniques. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD) based on 4-variable with 5-level have been employed to achieve the desirable possible combinations of frequency of vibration (7-15 Hz), inlet air temperature (36-68 °C), air flow rate (16-24 m3/h), and drying time (30-70 min) for the highest responses in terms of moisture removal (MR) and thermal efficiency (). A full quadratic model was used to describe the effects of individual and interactive parameters on the responses. The analysis of the obtained results showed that the inlet air temperature has the largest effect on responses. The optimal process parameters were as follows: frequency of vibration of 10.88 Hz, inlet air temperature of 64.08 °C, air flow rate of 20.63 m3/h and drying time of 69.11 min in which the predicted value for the MR (%) and  (%) was 86.76 and 53.05, respectively. The proposed optimal conditions were examined in the laboratory and MR (%) and  (%) achieved as 87.12±0.25% and 52.78±0.34%, respectively. The experimental values agreed with those predicted by RSM models, thus indicating the suitability of the model employed and the success of RSM in optimizing the drying conditions. UR - https://ijcce.ac.ir/article_28216.html L1 - https://ijcce.ac.ir/article_28216_749887283e4d4b5ddfde3e925e6a07d4.pdf ER -