Drying of gördes zeolite by microwave and modeling of drying phenomena

Zeolite minerals, is one of the most important industrial raw materials exported by Turkey. In this study surface moisture of Gördes-zeolite samples were examined with 2.45 GHz microwave source. Experiments were carried out 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 g sample mass at 120, 350, 460, 600 and 700 W microwave powers 0.7, 1.6, 1.6-3, 3-5 mm size. In order to obtain a relationship between the moisture content and the drying time with the experimental data total of eight models, Diffusion Approximation, Henderson and Pabis, Logaritmic, Midilli and Kucuk, Two Term, Two Term Exponential, Verma, were compared statistically. According to regression coefficient (r^2 ), standard error of estimate (SEE), residual sum of squares (RSS), chi-square X^2 and root mean square error (RMSE) According to the statistical values, the most appropriate drying model were found to be the Verma and Page Model equation in accordance with three and two parameters respectively. Regression coefficient ranged from 0.9908 to 0.9999. The activation energy for microwave drying of zeolite was calculated using an exponential expression based on Arrhenius equation and was found to be 30.84 W/g. Three-dimensional graph of MR was drawn according to time and m/P.