International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132 125

Original article
Comparison of drying behaviour, quality and yield of copra
processed in either a solar hybrid dryer on in an improved copra kiln

Thiruchelvam Thanaraj,1* Nimal D. A. Dharmasena2 & Upali Samarajeewa3

1 Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Chenkalady 30350, Sri Lanka
2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
3 Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
(Received 28 August 2004; Accepted in revised form 4 May 2005)

Summary Drying copra in a solar hybrid dryer reduces the moisture content from around 50% to 7% after 71 h of
continuous drying. The copra was graded as 73% white copra, 21% Milling Ordinary Grade II (M.O.GII)
and the remaining 6% M.O.GIII (dusty copra). Thermal efficiency was about 10%. In the Coconut Research
Institute copra kiln, the moisture content of copra was reduced from around 52% to 8% in 62 h of
intermittent dying. The copra was graded as about 82% M.O.GI and the remaining 18% M.O.GIII (burnt
copra). Thermal efficiency was about 15.5%. High quality white copra could be processed in solar hybrid
drying. However, no white copra could be processed in kiln drying.
Keywords Drying chamber, heat exchanger, milling ordinary, moisture content, solar collector, thermal efficiency.

hydrocarbon (PAH) and aflatoxins. Production of good

Introduction
quality copra affects the income of the farmers as copra
Copra is one of the major products processed from is valued according to weight, and clean well-processed
coconuts. Traditionally, drying is done either by using a copra is lighter than contaminated material (Dippon &
kiln or under direct sun. An improved Standard Ceylon Rose, 1996).
Copra Kiln was designed by the Coconut Research The essential principle involved in copra processing is
Institute (CRI), Sri Lanka, about 50 years ago. As sun the reduction of moisture content of the coconut kernel
drying of coconut affects quality of copra, the CRI from about 50% (wet basis) to 6% (wet basis) as quickly
drying kiln was considered as one of the most effective as possible after splitting the coconuts to prevent
kilns, especially when used to process good quality microbiological deterioration, concentrate the oil and
copra. It is also economically feasible because it utilizes to retain the composition, quality and quantity of oil
locally available materials such as unfired mud bricks, (Patterson & Perez, 1981).
round timber, coconut trunk, wooden slats, cadjan roof, As smoke will be in direct contact with the drying
etc. (Anon., 1965). coconut, white copra is not processed in kiln drying and
In most cases, processed copra is of inferior quality; the smoke may also form PAH in copra. Therefore,
the oil extracted from it is also of poor quality and needs there was a necessity to design and test an alternative
additional refining to meet international standards. Poor technique to use indirect heat to produce high quality
quality copra is subjected to an automatic price deduc- white copra at the lowest cost possible.
tion of 10–15% in the world market or even total The main objective of this study was to compare the
rejection, thus resulting in annual loss of more than quality and yield of copra processed in a solar hybrid
US$40 million (Dippon & Rose, 1996). As long as no dryer with that processed in the CRI improved copra
quality-based pricing system is introduced and applied, kiln and to make recommendations to farmers so that
local farmers will continue to produce poor quality they can adopt the most reliable technique for process-
copra. ing copra at the lowest cost possible but highest quality.
Poor quality copra not only reduces the price in the
world market but also increases health hazards such as
Materials and methods
contamination of coconut oil with polycyclic aromatic
The experiment was conducted at the Meewathura
*Correspondent: Fax: 0094 65 2240740; Farm, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, during the
e-mail: tthanaraj@hotmail.com period of June 2002 to April 2003.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01087.x
 2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund
126 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al.

Testing and evaluation of the solar hybrid dryer

A solar collector, a drying chamber, a heat exchanger
and a furnace are the main components of the solar
hybrid dryer (Figs 1 and 2). Dryers were tested and
evaluated for their performances in three replicate trials.
The drum-shaped heat exchanger was placed inside the
cylindrical shape drying chamber with a clearance of
5 cm between the outer surface of the heat exchanger
and the inner surface of the drying chamber. The heat
exchanger was 30 cm in diameter and fabricated from
metal sheeting of thickness 22 gauge. The drying
chamber was fabricated from 2.5 · 2.5 cm square gal-
vanized iron mesh which was supported by flat iron, the
inner and outer diameters of the drying chamber being
40 and 90 cm, respectively.
The frame of the solar collector was fabricated using
1 cm diameter iron rods and clear polyethylene was
spread tightly on the frame, which functioned as a solar
collector. The diameter of the solar collector was 100 cm. Figure 2 Solar hybrid dryer.
Five different temperature sensors (Cambell Scientific
Ltd, Lougborough, UK) were placed in the drying exchanger and drying chamber using furnace heat, the
chamber at different positions to record the temperature solar collector was completely covered by a flexible roof.
variation evenly. The average temperature variation in Then the flexible roof was removed and the solar collector
the drying chamber was recorded during the evaluation of was tested and evaluated, the evaluation again being for
the solar collector and drying chamber. Three different 7 h continuously (daytime) and repeated three times.
temperature sensors were placed in the inlet, centre and Once the evaluation of the different components of the
outlet of the heat exchanger to record the temperature solar hybrid dryer had been completed, three trials were
variation of the burnt gases and smoke. The surface held to compare its drying behaviour, quality and yield
temperature of the heat exchanger was also recorded with that for the CRI improved copra kiln.
using sensors. Solar insolation was continuously recorded Fully matured coconuts were harvested and then stored
as the total solar energy received per square metre in a for up to 6 weeks in order for ‘seasoning’ to occur. This
second (W m)2). A Delta-T ESR model solar sensor hardens the kernel and improves its resistance to deteri-
(Cambell Scientific Ltd) was placed near to the solar oration by bacterial action. The nuts were split early in the
hybrid dryer at the experimental site. The heat exchanger morning, at around 6.00 a.m., and dried under the sun
and the drying chamber were tested and evaluated at the during the daytime. This facilitated the maximum
furnace feeding rate of 10 kg h)1 paddy husk, the removal of free moisture at the commencement of drying,
evaluated for 7 h continuously (daytime) and repeated thus minimizing deterioration and drying time.
three times. The average temperature was recorded in At the end of sun drying, coconut cups were loaded
different places of the heat exchanger and drying cham- into the drying chamber for continuous drying. Samples
ber. During the testing and evaluation of the heat were taken for the determination of moisture content

Figure 1 Simplified schematic diagram of the

solar hybrid dryer and its components.

International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132  2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund
 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al. 127

immediately after splitting the nuts (initial moisture (%, wet basis), u is the quantity of the final dried
content) and continued every 6 h up to the end of the product at Mf moisture content (kg), k is the latent heat
drying process. Solar insolation, air velocity, the ambi- of vaporization of water (kJ kg)1), W is the quantity of
ent dry and wet bulb temperatures, and drying chamber fuel used (kg), and C is the calorific value of the fuel
temperatures were recorded by sensors connected to a used (kJ kg)1).
CR10 data logger (Cambell Scientific Ltd). Wet bulb
and dry bulb temperatures were recorded using sensors
Testing and evaluation of the CRI-improved copra kiln
and relative humidity (RH) calculated using the data.
Air velocity was measured continuously using a vane Three trials were carried out by using the CRI copra
anemometer. All sensors were connected to the data kiln to compare the drying behaviour, quality and yield
logger and the data logger was programmed to collect of copra with that produced by the solar hybrid dryer.
data every 5 s and this was then averaged over 5 min. The same procedure to that which had been used
Once the coconut cups were loaded into the drying previously at CRI, Sri Lanka, was followed for the
chamber, the furnace operation was started. Fire was set processing of copra in the kiln, except that the capacity
at the lower bottom end of the steps and paddy husk of the dying platform was scaled down to 700 nuts per
was fed into the hopper at a feeding rate of 10 kg h)1. batch, all the nuts being split into two halves in the
The temperature in the drying chamber was maintained early morning and dried under direct sun to remove
at around 60 C throughout the drying period. Ash was free moisture. At the end of sun dying, all the cups
removed periodically. As solar radiation was available were collected and spread on the drying platform in a
during the daytime, a flexible roof was removed and the 30-cm thick bed. The bottom layer of cups faced up
solar collector was exposed to the solar radiation. This and all other layers were arranged facing down to
solar energy alone was not enough to maintain the utilize the heat effectively. Samples were taken imme-
drying temperature and so furnace heat was also diately after splitting the coconuts to determine the
incorporated at a fuel (paddy husk) feeding rate of initial moisture content. The moisture content was then
3 kg h)1. At the end of the second night of continuous determined before and at the end of each firing.
drying, all the cups were down loaded and the shells Coconut shells were used as fuel in this trial, the fire
removed manually from the copra, which was then filled being set on the shells from the rear end of the kiln.
again into the drying chamber for a further 24 h of Shells were arranged in two double rows along the
drying. Dried cups were then graded according to the length of the fire pit. The mass of coconut shells used for
SLS 612:1983 standards (Table 1). firing was weighed. Five temperature sensors were fixed
along the diagonal of the drying bed (Fig. 3) for effective
Estimation of drying efficiency temperature recording and connected to the CR 10 data
The drying efficiency of the solar hybrid dryer was logger. The first fire lasted for 6 h. A 4-h rest period was
estimated using eqn 1, as derived by Patil (1982): given without fire after each fire in order to migrate the
ukðM0  Mf Þ internal moisture to the surface. Two double rows of
Thermal efficiency ðgt Þ ¼  100; ð1Þ coconut shells were arranged for the second firing also
WCð100  M0 Þ and the fire lasted for 5.5 h. At the end of the rest period
where M0 is the initial moisture content of coconut (%, cups were mixed thoroughly in order to get uniform
wet basis), Mf is the final moisture content of coconut drying.

Table 1 Requirements for Milling Ordinary (M.O.) copra (SLS 612, 1983)

Requirements

Serial no. Characteristics M.O. grade I M.O. grade II M.O. grade III M.O. grade IV

1 Moisture present by mass, maximum 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

2 Oil content (moisture free basis), percentage by mass, minimum 68.0 68.0 68.0 68.0
3 Free fatty acids (as lauric acids), percentage by mass, maximum N/S N/S N/S N/S
4 Impurities, presentage by mass, max. N/S N/S N/S N/S
5 Broken cups or chips, percentage by number, max. N/S N/S N/S N/S
(passing through a 9.5-mm sieve)
6 Mouldy cups*, percentage by count, max. 20.0 50.0 80.0 100.0
7 Lovibond colour, in a 25-mm cell, expressed as Y+5R, max. N/S N/S N/S N/S

N/S, not specified; Y, yellow; R, red.

*The presence of pink coloured mould (Aspergillus cinnamomeus) was not counted.
Source: Tillekeratne (1991).

 2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132
128 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al.

(Table 1). As there were no standards for white copra, it

was graded separately. Different grades were given in
percentages.

Comparison of drying behaviour, quality and yield of copra

The drying efficiency, temperature variation and RH
variation during the drying processes were compared.
The copra was graded according to the SLS standard in
each drying method and then the quality was compared.
The final copra yields were calculated and compared.

Results

Solar hybrid dryer

The solar collector (convective type) was evaluated at an
average solar insolation of about 708 W m)2. The
average temperature recorded in the collector was
51 C. The collector efficiency varied between 3% and
5%, with an average of about 4%. As there was a need
to increase the temperature up to 60 C and maintain it
throughout the drying period, supplementary furnace
heat was provided by burning paddy husk at a feeding
Figure 3 Arrangement of temperature sensors at the drying bed of the
rate of 3 kg h)1 during the daytime. The average
Coconut Research Institute kiln.
(±standard deviation) furnace efficiency was 70.2%
(±3.9%) at a feeding rate of 10 kg h)1. The heat
For the third fire, two single rows of fuel shells were exchanger was evaluated at a feeding rate of 10 kg h)1,
arranged and the fire lasted for 4.5 h. Then the shells and the average energy loss at the heat exchanger was
were removed from the cups manually and the drying found to be 5 kW. The average efficiency of the heat
coconut kernels were spread on the drying platform exchanger was 39.1% (±1.4%).
again for further drying. For the fourth and fifth fires, a The variation in ambient temperature could alter the
double row of shells were arranged at the centre of the drying temperature but compensation was achieved by
fire along its length and each fire lasted for 5 h. Samples manually varying the feeding rate of paddy husk to
were taken for moisture determination at the beginning maintain the drying temperature around 60 C (Fig. 4).
and end of each fire. At the end of the fifth fire it was The average dry and wet bulb ambient temperatures
found that the copra had been dried to the required were 25 and 22 C throughout the drying period. The
moisture content, based on observation. Then the copra average ambient RH throughout the drying period was
was graded based on the standards (SLS 612:1983).

Determination of moisture content

Seven samples were randomly selected for moisture
determination at predetermined intervals.

Grading of copra based on quality standards

(SLS 612:1983)
The processed copra was graded into different types of
copra, such as white, coloured, burnt, mouldy, etc.
based on the specific quality characters of each grade. At
the end of each drying process, about 100 cups were
taken randomly and graded according to the standards
(SLS 612:1983). As the final moisture content of copra
was just above 6% in both drying techniques, SLS Figure 4 Variation of ambient and drying chamber temperatures with
standards for Milling Ordinary (M.O.) copra were used time during solar hybrid drying.

International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132  2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund
 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al. 129

84% (Fig. 5). In the drying chamber, a high RH of Copra grades

around 90% was recorded at the initial stage of drying Table 2 shows the details of the different grades of copra
and it gradually reduced to about 30% at the end of produced in solar hybrid drying. On average about 73%
drying. The air velocity was recorded as 0.6 m s)1. of white copra was produced. The remainder of the
Figure 6 shows the variation of solar insolation copra was graded as 21% of brown coloured copra and
during the daytime. An average daytime solar insolation 6% of dusty copra. Even though the drying efficiency
of 668 W m)2 was recorded during the drying period. It was relatively low, a fairly large percentage of high
was found that solar insolation contributed a consider- quality white copra was produced.
able amount of energy to the drying system and reduced
the feeding rate of paddy husk from 10 to 3 kg h)1. The
CRI kiln drying
average initial moisture content of coconut was around
50% and it was reduced to 7% at the end of drying. The An average drying temperature of about 75 C was
total drying period was 71 h. recorded in the improved CRI kiln drying, which is a
little higher than the optimum. The instantaneous
Thermal efficiency of the solar hybrid dryer temperature at different places in the drying bed varied
About 147 kg of copra was processed in each trial from with the advance of the fire in the fire pit. Figure 7
700 nuts and about 116 kg of moisture was removed illustrates the advances of temperature recorded by the
from each batch. The thermal efficiency was calculated sensors placed along the diagonal of the drying bed
as being 10.2% (±0.4%) using eqn 1. The efficiency (Fig. 3) during the first firing. Sensor 1 was fixed at the
was relatively low, but it could be further improved by rear end of the drying bed and therefore it recorded the
regulating the air flow rate and reducing the losses at the highest temperature of about 117 C at the beginning
furnace and heat exchanger. The energy consumption and then it reduced. Likewise each sensor recorded the
was about 25 MJ to evaporate 1 kg of water. highest temperature as the fire advanced through those
points.
Figure 8 indicates a high RH of about 80% was
recorded in the drying bed at the beginning of drying
and then it declined with time to around 37%. The

Table 2 Different grades of copra produced using the solar hybrid

dryer

Trial 1 Trail 2 Trial 3 Average

Grade of copra (%) (%) (%) (%)

1. White copra 65.0 71.2 82.4 72.9

2. M.O. grade II (brown copra) 25.6 22.7 14.0 20.8
3. M.O. grade III (dusty cups) 9.4 6.1 3.7 6.4

Figure 5 Variation of ambient and drying chamber relative humidity

(RH) during solar hybrid drying.

Figure 6 Variation of solar insolation and moisture content during Figure 7 Variation of temperature at the drying bed during the first fire
solar hybrid drying. D indicates daytime and N indicates night-time. of kiln drying.

 2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132
130 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al.

Table 3 Different grades of copra produced in Coconut Research

Institute kiln drying trials

Trial 1 Trail 2 Trial 3 Average

Grade of copra (%) (%) (%) (%)

1. M.O. grade I 80 86 80 82
2. M.O. grade II (copra with 20 14 20 18
burnt patches)

produced. The thermal efficiency of the drying was

calculated to be 15.5% (±0.75%) using eqn 1.

Grade of copra
Figure 8 Variation of drying bed relative humidity (RH) and drying
temperature in the drying bed during kiln drying.
An average of about 82% of Milling Ordinary Grade I
(M.O.GI) and 18% of M.O.GII copra were processed in
CRI kiln drying (Table 3). The M.O.GI copra was light
variation may be because of the different rates of brown in colour and free of mould, dust and burnt
moisture removal from the cups and the higher initial patches, while the other grades of copra had a few burnt
moisture content of the coconut cups. patches. However, kiln drying did not produce any
Figure 9 shows the drying curve for CRI kiln drying. white copra because of the direct contact of smoke.
The moisture content of coconut was reduced from 52% Unfortunately, the copra was not graded in the Milling
to 8% during a total drying time of about 62 h. The Superior grades because of its higher final moisture
moisture loss was higher during first and second firing content (>6%). According to CRI reports, about 70–
and then the rate reduced in further firings. The 80% of M.O.GI copra is typically processed in kiln
moisture loss was very low or negligible during the rest drying. It is generally accepted that the frequent mixing
period of the later firings. However a significant up of drying coconut cups and the reduction of fuel rate
reduction of moisture was observed even in the rest might reduce the burnt patches.
period of the first two firings.
Discussion
Thermal efficiency of the CRI kiln
About 145 kg of copra was processed per batch of 700 A comparatively very low efficiency of about 4% was
coconuts in the CRI kiln drying, which consumed about calculated for the convective type solar collector fabri-
90 kg of shells (910 half shells). Therefore, about 65% of cated on the solar hybrid dryer. This is about 10 to 15
the shells were utilized for fuel in the drying process, times lower than that for flat plate solar collectors. It
giving a shell recovery of about 35%. According to CRI was therefore suspected that the design configuration of
reports about 67% of the shells are typically used in the the collector might be the cause of the lower efficiency.
drying process. The specific fuel consumption rate was As solar energy alone was not enough to maintain a
calculated to be 0.62 kg of shells per kg of copra drying temperature of around 60 C, furnace heat was
also incorporated throughout the drying process. The
feeding rate of fuel (paddy husk) was varied according
to the climatic conditions and diurnal changes. During
bright sunny days the furnace heat was incorporated at
a feeding rate of 3 kg h)1; however, during the night and
on cloudy days the furnace heat was incorporated at a
feeding rate of around 10 kg h)1. Therefore, the tem-
perature was totally controlled manually by altering the
feeding rate of fuel, as also found by Anon. (1981).
The furnace operation at the feeding rate of 10 kg h)1
was always preferred because at this feeding rate the
maximum efficiency of 70.2% (±3.9%) was obtained.
Once the feeding rate was reduced, the efficiency also
reduced drastically, the efficiency of the furnace being
about 48% at a feeding rate of 5 kg h)1 and about 43%
Figure 9 Drying curve of coconuts during Coconut Research Institute at a feeding rate of 3 kg h)1. A feeding rate above
kiln drying. 10 kg h)1 also reduced the efficiency of the furnace and

International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132  2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund
 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al. 131

also caused some practical problems to the furnace could be further improved by regulating the air flow rate
operation. The average efficiency of the heat exchanger and reducing the losses at the furnace and heat
was at a satisfactory level (39.1 ± 1.4%). exchanger. The solar hybrid dryer consumed about
Maintaining the optimum drying temperature in the 25 MJ of fuel energy to evaporate 1 kg of water;
drying chamber is very important because high temper- however, the CRI kiln dryer consumed only about
atures may cause case hardening and burnt patches 16 MJ of fuel energy per kg of water evaporated. The
while low temperatures may cause mould growth and lower energy consumption in CRI kiln drying was
extended drying time. A drying temperature of about because of its more direct form of drying (smoke)
60 C was maintained in the solar hybrid dryer, but an compared with the solar hybrid dryer. Bischoff (1996)
average drying temperature of about 75 C was recor- mentioned that the thermal efficiencies of modified
ded in CRI kiln drying, which is a little higher than the Kukum copra dryers (indirect dryers) was about 13% at
optimum level. It was difficult to maintain the drying a specific energy consumption of <19 MJ per kg of
temperature at the optimum level in CRI kiln drying at evaporated water. Therefore, according to the reports
the feeding rate that was used. If the drying temperature on a similar system, the drying efficiency of the solar
was reduced to an optimum level the copra quality hybrid dryer is relatively low, which may be because of
might be enhanced, however the drying time might be the configuration of the furnace and heat exchanger.
extended. Supratomo et al. (1990) reported that the However, the dryer had the facility to improve the
higher the temperature the shorter the drying time for a uniform temperature distribution by rotating the drying
partially solar heated dryer used for copra production. chamber. Therefore, the final quality of copra should
At 60 C, it took 55 h to dry copra to a final moisture also be considered.
content of around 6%. If the temperature was increased Lozada (1991) reported that the heat utilization
by 10 C, the drying time reduced to 43 h. This efficiencies in two tests conducted in a direct kiln
phenomenon is because of the increase in the drying dryer were comparable at 39% and 34%. Bischoff
power of the air, which has a great influence on the (1996) reported that for a firing time of 20 h in a
drying rate, especially for higher moisture content levels. ‘Tapahan dryer’ (direct dryer) the thermal efficiency
The high moisture removal rate and the low air was 12–13% at a specific energy consumption of
velocity may be the reasons for an RH of around 80– 19 MJ per kg of water evaporated. Thus these
90% in the drying chamber at the initial stage of drying literature reports are indicating two different levels
in both the solar hybrid dyer and the CRI kiln (Figs 5 of drying thermal efficiencies for two different dryers.
and 8). A higher initial RH of about 81% was reduced The thermal efficiency of CRI kiln drying was about
to about 36% in the drying bed during CRI kiln drying, half of the values reported by Lozada (1991), while a
while the average ambient RH was about 84% (Fig. 8). little higher than the value obtained by Bischoff
Supratomo et al. (1990) reported a mean RH of 35% in (1996). However, further improvement of the efficiency
a conventional dryer for an air speed of 0.9 m s)1 and, of the CRI kiln is desirable.
in solar hybrid dryers, a lowest mean RH of 26% was Based on the grading of copra, there was no possi-
obtained for an air velocity of 0.9 m s)1. In the latter bility of processing white copra in CRI kiln drying
system, the additional air entering the dryer was hotter (Table 3) because the burnt gases and smokes were in
than the ambient air used in a conventional system. direct contact with drying coconut (direct drying). A
In the drying curves for both dying techniques (Figs 6 high percentage of white copra (73%) was processed in
and 9), the moisture removal rate from the coconut was the solar hybrid dryer (Table 2) because there was no
higher during the initial stage of the drying because of contact of smoke and burnt gases with drying coconuts.
the high moisture migration rate from the surface layers. The drying period for a batch of coconut was almost the
The moisture removal rate reduced with time because of same in both drying techniques, however the drying time
the lower moisture migration rate from the deeper was, relatively, much lower in CRI kiln drying (38 h) as
layers. A relatively smooth drying curve was obtained solar hybrid drying took about 71 h. This was because
for the continuous dying in the solar hybrid dryer of the solar hybrid drying being continuous and indirect
(Fig. 6), however a wavy drying curve was obtained in whereas CRI kiln drying is intermittent and direct. Even
CRI kiln drying because of its intermittent operation though the solar hybrid drying consumed relatively
(Fig. 9). Nathanael (1966) reported that, during hot air more energy and time and had a lower drying efficiency,
curing with intermittent cooling, a moisture gradient the compensation was that high quality white copra was
was established within the kernel, where moisture produced. Escalante et al. (1977) reported that the
gradually migrates from deeper layers to the surface, quality of copra produced from an indirect type of
resulting in a process of uniform dehydration of the dryer was superior to that produced from other types of
kernel. dryer, and the colour ranged from light to dark brown.
The thermal efficiency of the solar hybrid dryer was However, the dryer had low thermal efficiency and high
lower than that for the CRI-improved copra kiln, but it cost.

 2006 Institute of Food Science and Technology Trust Fund International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 125–132
132 Comparative study on copra drying techniques T. Thanaraj et al.

Conclusions Bischoff, J. (1996). Technology transfer and applications in relation to

the coconut industry. In: Proceeding of the 33rd COCOTECH
It could be concluded from this comparative study Meeting. Pp. 79–106. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Asia Pacific
that high quality white copra can be processed by Coconut Community (APCC).
solar hybrid drying with the expenditure of a little bit Dippon, C. & Rose, V. (1996). Copra dryers and copra drying
technologies. In: Proceeding of the 33rd COCOTECH Meeting. Pp.
more energy and time than for CRI kiln drying. 79–106. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Asia Pacific Coconut Commu-
Comparatively poor quality M.O. copra was produced nity (APCC).
in CRI kiln drying because of the direct contact of Escalante, M.C., Rosillo, J.R. & Celino, H.C. (1977). Coconut Drying
smoke and burnt gases with drying coconut, which Central Pilot Studies (Phase one). Terminal report. PCRDC-
Funded research project. Baybay, Leyte, The Philippines: Depart-
may induce the formation of carcinogenic substance ment of Agricultural Engineering and Applied Mathematics, Leyte
like PAH in copra. Therefore, as far as the quality State University.
and yield of the copra processed in both techniques Lozada, E.P. (1991). Copra making and small scale cooking oil
are concerned, the solar hybrid dryer is superior to production systems. In: Proceeding of the 28th COCOTECH
that of the CRI kiln. Meeting. Pp. 320–342. Chiangmai, Thailand: Asia Pacific Coconut
Community (APCC).
Nathanael, W.R.N. (1966). Moisture and other quality features in
Acknowledgments copra. Ceylon Coconut Quarterly, 17, 1–41.
Patil, R.T. (1982). Design and development of copra dryers using
We express our sincere acknowledgement to SEEDS agricultural waste as source of energy. In: Proceedings of the 5th
Annual Symposium on Plantation Crops 1982 (edited by A. Bavappa
(Pvt) Ltd, Sarvodaya for granting the major part of the et al.). Pp. 324–334. Kasaragod, India: Indian Society for Plantation
financial aids needed for this study. The PGIA and CRI, Crops.
Sri Lanka are also greatly acknowledged for providing Patterson, G. & Perez, P. (1981). Solar Drying in the Tropics. 13 Pp.
test material, partial funding and other assistance for the Santa Monica, CA: Meals for Million of Freedom from Hunger
study. Foundation.
Supratomo, L., Daguenet, M. & Elegant, G. (1990). Technico-
economic feasiblity of a partially solar heated dryer for copra
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