Drying behavior of olive pomace with hot air assisted-radiofrequency drying and its associated effect on olive pomace oil quality

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the drying behavior of olive pomace during drying in a hot air assisted radiofrequency system and also to evaluate the final oil quality obtained from this dried pomace. The effect of sample thickness, radiofrequency electrode gap and the compression of sample (sample porosity) on drying behavior was determined. The most efficient drying took place in 60 minutes with a 1000 kg sample at 105 mm electrode gap and 10 cm sample thickness. The quality parameters of the oil obtained at these optimal conditions was determined. The free fatty acid content, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, PAH content (BaP), L*,a*, b*, chlorophyll and carotenoid content of the oil were measured as 1.09 %, 12.2 meq O2/kg oil, 3.01,<1 ppb, 38.6, 7.5, 62.56, 105.25 mg pheophytin A /kg oil and 2.85 mg /kg oil, respectively.