Mathematical modeling and effective diffusion of Schinus terebinthifolius leaves during drying

The drying process of agricultural products is extensively used worldwide for controlling and maintaining their quality. For medicinal and aromatic plants, this importance increases even more. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the drying kinetics of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi leaves, as well as adjusting different mathematical models to the experimental values of moisture ratio. The leaves were harvested with initial moisture content of approximately 65% (w.b.) and submitted to the drying process under controlled conditions of temperature (40ºC, 50ºC, 60ºC and 70ºC), up to the approximate moisture content of 10% (w.b.). Six mathematical models were adjusted to the experimental data cited at the specific literature and used to predict the drying process of agricultural products. According to the results obtained, it was concluded that the modified Henderson & Pabis and Midilli models were the ones that best represented the drying kinetics of S. terebinthifolius leaves. The temperature increase of the drying air promoted a higher rate of water removal from the product. The effective diffusion coefficient increased with the temperature elevation, and its relation to the drying temperature fitted the Arrhenius equation, which presented activation energy for the liquid diffusion, during the drying process, of 74.96 kJ mol-1, for S. terebinthifolius leaves.