Evaluation of drying kinetics and physico-chemical characteristics of dried kinnow peel

Essential oils of citrus peel have a good range of food and medicinal uses. In the present study, the drying kinetics and physico-chemical characteristics of dried (mechanical and solar dried) kinnow peel was investigated. Final moisture content of mechanical and solar dried kinnow peel was 7.06 and 7.4%, respectively. L, a and b values of fresh, mechanical and solar dried peel ranged from 45.44−57.24, 29.4−33.9 and 44.10−55.27, respectively. L, a and b values were significantly different with respect to drying treatments. It was observed that water retention capacity, total phenols, flavanoids content and antioxidant capacity significantly decreased, whereas, oil retention capacity increased on drying treatments. The study showed that dehydrated products obtained from citrus peel could be a valuable source of antioxidants if these are preserved by applying appropriate drying technique.