Isothermal drying of plant-based food material: An approach using 2D polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micromodels
Abstract(#br)The aims of this study were to build PDMS micromodels that simulated plant-based food material, and use them to investigate the drying mechanisms at pore-scale, the drying front morphologies and the drying curves during the isothermal drying process. Micromodels were built using a modified photolithographic technique. Three normal pore size distribution functions were developed to simulate the plasmodesma, intercellular space, and cell wall. Micromodels were impregnated with a pyranine aqueous solution and placed on a balance illuminated with ultraviolet light.