DRYING BEHAVIOR OF SUGAR PALM (Arenga pinnala) USING HYBRID CABINET-TYPE SOLAR DRYER

The general objective of this study was to determine the drying behaviour of kaong (Arenga pinnafa) using hybrid cabinet-type solar dryer. It was conducted at Agricultural Engineering Complex, Mindanao State University, General Santos City. The drying characteristics of kaong were determined using two factors. The factors were the drying method — the hybrid solar drying and sun drying — and the pre-treatment of kaong — treated with sugar and untreated with sugar. The kaong was dried from an initial moisture content of 71.4% for sugar-treated samples and 92.5% for untreated with sugar to a final moisture content of 20%. Result showed that the higher the drying temperature, the faster the drying time and drying rate. During drying, it was observed that the samples treated with sugar had shorter drying time and faster drying rate, possibly due to a lower initial moisture content compared to untreated samples. The drying time in sugar-treated samples and untreated samples using hybrid solar dryer was 2.8 hours and 8.22 hours, respectively. On the other hand, the drying rate in sugar-treated samples and untreated samples using hybrid solar dryer was 18.42%MC/hr and 8.90%MC/hr, respectively. The study also showed that the average temperature during solar drying is 52.24°C while 46.67°C in sun drying. Lastly, the difference in drying temperature, drying time and drying rate of the two drying methods and two pre-treatments were statistically significant.