Abstract |
Hydration kinetics of teff [Eragrostis teff (Zucc.) Trotter] grain was studied during soaking in water at the temperatures of 20?, 30?, 40? and 50? for 10 - 160 min. The weight gain during soaking of the grains was used to calculate the moisture content (% db) and the data was fit to Peleg’s model. Peleg’s model adequately predicted the water uptake of the teff grain under the experimental conditions investigated (r 2 = 0.97 – 0.99). The Peleg rate constant, k1, and capacity constant, k2, decreased from 0.714 to 0.272 min %-1 and 0.043 to 0.025%-1, respectively, with the increasing temperature from 20? to 50?. Arrhenius type equation described the temperature dependence of k1 and k2 with r2 values of 0.91 and 0.98, respectively, and activation energy of 24.59 kJ mol-1. The strong correlation coefficient value of 0.97 - 0.99 indicated that Peleg’s model could be used to characterize the hydration kinetics of teff grain under the experimental conditions considered. |