Improved turmeric processing techniques using microwave energy with Hitech controller

Abstract

The microwave energy has been used for decades in many dielectric heating and drying processes. There is a need to get more engineering design data related for accurate design of microwave drying applicators with suitable means of controlling microwave power resulting maximum efficiency and better performance characteristics of the drying system giving quality output product. Hence, it is essential to examine microwave power absorbed by the load, the drying characteristics and load efficiency of the microwave drying applicator with suitable power controller. It has been observed that the phase control mode (P-CM) is the most suitable control mode applied to microwave drying applicator for better results. Turmeric is an important commercial crop in India. In this research work, it has been studied the potential use and the effects of microwave drying at various stages of turmeric processing techniques during soil, seed treatment, post harvest processing and storage conditions, with reduced labor and costs and to get a better quality clean output product containing high nutritional values, and of non-toxic and uncontaminated nature. Turmeric is an important commercial crop in India. In this research work, it has been studied the potential use and the effects of microwave drying at various stages of turmeric processing techniques during soil, seed treatment, post harvest processing and storage conditions, with reduced labor and costs and to get a better quality clean output product containing high nutritional values, and of non-toxic and uncontaminated nature. The populations of soil microorganisms are an important component of soil organic matter. Microwave treatment was performed using different microwave power levels with different time durations on different types of soils at different moisture contents. It has been observed that the population of soil microorganisms decreases with higher microwave power, more duration of treatment time and less moisture content for all types of soils.