Study of drying characteristics of coriander leaves dried under fluidized bed dryer using different mathematical models

The present study aimed to examine the drying kinetics of coriander leaves in a fluidized‑bed dryer, using fresh leaves procured from the local market in Meerut. Dried 500 gm batches of control and blanched leaves at a constant air velocity of 2 m/s across temperatures of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C and their quality evaluation during storage period the dried samples sealed on LDPE pouches after drying and the untreated sample was taken as Control sample. The aim of this study was to determine the drying kinetic of the sample control and blanched were evaluated by using standard procedures. Consistent with existing literature on coriander leaf drying moisture removal occurred exclusively in the falling‑rate period with no constant‑rate phase observed. This indicates that internal moisture diffusion governed the drying process as is typical for thin leafy materials with limited surface moisture fitting two commonly applied drying models the Lewis model and the Page model to the experimental data revealed that the Lewis model provided a superior fit especially for blanched leaves dried in the fluidized‑bed setup. Blanching likely modifies the leaf structure enhancing moisture diffusion and making the Lewis model more appropriate for predicting drying behaviour in these conditions. The physico chemical properties of control and blanched samples were analyzed just after drying.