Evaluating the Performance of Super Absorbent Hydrogel in Drying Of Seed Maize under Hermetic Conditions (Review Completed - Accepted)
The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of using super absorbent hydrogel in drying of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds under hermetic conditions to offer alternative solution to seed drying. The performance of hydrogel in drying seed maize under hermetic conditions was evaluated based on three treatments consisting of 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15 hydrogel to seed maize ratio by weight dried under different temperatures of 40, 35, 30 and 25oC and initial moisture content of 16, 28 and 53% (dry basis). The control for the study was not utilizing any hydrogel.
Analysis of variance for a 4*4*3 factorial experiment was computed to ascertain whether drying temperature and ratio had any effect on the final moisture content attained and if there was an interaction between ratio and drying temperature. The results reveals that the effects of temperature, ratio and temperature ratio interaction on the final moisture content were highly significant (p < .001). The study demonstrated that super absorbent hydrogel is a potential desiccant that can be used in drying seed maize under hermetic conditions.
Keywords: Desiccant, Hermetic Drying, Hydrogel