Kinetics of Thin Layer Drying of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) Roots

Abstract

The present research focused on the medicinal plant Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), which is commonly used in traditional Indian medicine. The powdered roots of this plant are frequently incorporated into pharmaceutical formulations. The primary objective of this study was to analyse the drying behaviour of Safed Musli roots using empirical modelling. Specifically, the roots were dried at three distinct temperatures (45, 50, and 55 °C) until they attained equilibrium moisture content. The initial root moisture content was 313.21% (d.b.). Six empirical models for drying were tested using the moisture ratios derived from the moisture loss data. The models were assessed based on the coefficient of determination (R² ) and root mean square error (RMSE). The Page model emerged as the best-fitting model, with R² values ranging from 0.9913 to 0.9961 at all three drying temperatures. The effective diffusivity of Safed Musli roots varied from 2.234×10^-9 to 5.214×10^-9 m² .s-1, with higher values observed at higher drying temperatures. This study offers valuable insights for engineers who design drying equipment and processes for Safed Musli roots, thereby enhancing the efficiency and quality of the drying process.