Combination System of Spray Dryer and Low Evaporator Temperature Refrigeration for Drying Vitamine B1

Abstract

This study explores a combination of spray drying and refrigeration systems on production of vitamin B1, which is known to be heat-sensitive. It analyzes the effect of drying air temperature on vitamin B1 levels and notes the related influence on production levels. In addition to temperature, productivity is influenced by moisture and drying airflow rates. In this study, air temperatures were set at 80, 110, and 140oC. Air humidity variations were carried out by changing the humidifier's outlet air temperature to 10, 15, and 20oC. The airflow rate varied at 150, 300, and 450 lpm. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) testing methods was used to test the level of damage to vitamin B1 products. By setting the temperature of air passing through the evaporator at 10oC, the drying temperature at 140oC, and airflow rate at 450 lpm, damage to vitamin B1 can be minimized by 7.69%. The drying productivity with the refrigeration system is even 3 times larger than the result of the drying productivity with conventional methode. These results indicate that the combination of spray drying and refrigeration systems with low evaporator temperatures can have a significant positive impact on the production quality of vitamin B1.