Abstract:
Applicability of fluidization methods in rewetting low moisture polished rice was investigated using a recirculating fluidized
bed. The sphericity of polished rice was calculated using Ergun's equation to determine the effective diameter. The calculated frictional
pressure drop agreed well with the observed data. The sorption characteristics were investigated under fluidizing conditions at different
air temperatures and relative humidities. Sorption data were fitted to the first falling rate period drying equation with a standard error of
estimate of the moisture content of polished rice ranging from 0.06 to 0.14% d.b. and the sorption coefficient followed the Arrhenius
type temperature dependency. The results showed that the fluidization techniques could be effectively used for rewetting low moisture
polished rice.
