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This research introduced an energy-efficient drying method combining hot-air drying with stepwise microwave heating for producing quick-cooking red beans. Crucial parameters such as the effective diffusivity coefficient (De), and specific energy consumption (SEC) were examined across varying conditions with the aim of optimizing the drying condition. The results showed that De and SEC varied in a range of 0.53 × 10−9–3.18 × 10−9 m2·s−1 and 16.58–68.06 MJ·(kg·h−1)−1, respectively. The findings from the response surface methodology indicated that optimal drying conditions for cooked red beans are achieved at a hot air temperature of 90 °C, a microwave power of 450 W (corresponding to an initial intensity of 2.25 W·g−1), and a rotational speed of 0.2 Hz. These conditions lead to the maximum effective diffusivity coefficient and the lowest specific energy consumption. Further investigations into step-up (150–300 W to 300–450 W) and step-down (300–450 W to 150–300 W) microwave heating modes were conducted to refine the drying process for enhanced energy efficiency. The synthetic evaluation index revealed that step-down microwave heating strategies of 450 W-to-150 W and 300 W-to-150 W, applied at a temperature of 90 °C and a rotational speed of 0.2 Hz, were notably effective. These methods successfully minimized energy use while preserving the quality attributes of the final product, which were comparable to those of traditionally cooked and freeze-dried red beans. The combined approach of hot-air drying with step-down microwave heating presents a promising, energy-saving technique for producing quick-cooking beans that retain their rehydration qualities and texture.

Vegetable drying is an energy consuming procedure despite the fact that it is the most efficient way to preserve agricultural products. This study investigates a new way to dry good quality garlic at lower cost. Thin garlic layer was submitted to free convection airflow at air drying temperature of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C. Using the slope method, effective diffusivity coefficient was determined at each drying temperature during the first and second falling drying rate periods. Considering the former, it increased with increasing temperature. In relation to latter, it decreased with the temperature increase. However, at low drying temperatures, process keeps on going to very low moisture content; and it develops to an asymptotic value at high temperatures, indicating that shrinking at high temperature prevents evaporation of some residual moisture. Considered separately, these temperatures do not reflect the conditions met in solar drying, since in solar systems, air temperature increases during the day with increasing solar radiation. Therefore, characterization of garlic drying by means of step temperature varying – the first hour of drying at 40 °C; the second hour of drying at 50 °C, and the remaining time of drying at 60 °C – might better correspond with conditions under solar drying and result in better understanding of the process.

Bench- and pilot-scale successive multi-batch trials were conducted to investigate the performance and sustainability of fungal conditioning with Penicillium simplicissimum NJ12 for improving sludge dewatering. The dominant factors affecting the sludge dewaterability improvement by P. simplicissimum NJ12 were also identified. Fungal treatment with P. simplicissimum NJ12 at a volume fraction of 5% of the inoculum greatly improved the sludge dewaterability. This improvement was characterized by sharp decreases in the specific resistance to filtration from 1.97 × 10 13 to 3.52 × 10 11 m/kg and capillary suction time from 32 to 12 s within 3 days. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that a marked decrease (58.8%) in the protein content in slime extracellular polymeric substances and an increase in the zeta potential of the sludge (from −35 to −10 mV) were the most important factors that improved the dewaterability of sludge after fungal treatment. Consecutive processes of fungal treatment could be realized by recirculating the fungal-treated sludge with a recycling rate of 1:2 ( V biotreated sludge / V total sludge ). The treatment effectiveness was maintained only over three successive cycles, but replenishment with fresh P. simplicissimum NJ12 would be provided periodically at set batch intervals. These findings demonstrate the possibility of P. simplicissimum NJ12-assisted fungal treatment for enhancing sludge dewatering.

Reducing pine wood particle size is beneficial for acid leaching (shorter leaching time, smaller equipment size) and also for pyrolysis (low pyrolysis time, high oil and sugar yields). Torrefaction helps to improve the energy efficiency of grinding. However, it is not well established whether alkali and alkaline earth metals can still be removed effectively, after torrefaction, by leaching with an acetic acid solution, while keeping high oil and sugar yields. To investigate this, an experimental study was carried out combining torrefaction (290?C, 20 minutes) and subsequently acid leaching of pine wood as pretreatment step before fast pyrolysis of the feedstock at 530?C. The oil, char, gas, water, pyrolytic lignin, light oxygenates and levoglucosan yields were compared with the results obtained from fast pyrolysis of untreated pine wood and acid leached pine wood at 530?C. In addition, pyrolysis vapors were condensed step-wise into two distinguished fractions (condensation T = 80?C) to increase the levoglucosan concentration up to 45 wt.% with or without applying torrefaction as pretreatment. Intra-particle reactions during torrefaction are more profound in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metals. Cellulose and lignin derived products (e.g. levolucosan (~0.2 kg/kg pine wood) and pyrolytic lignin (~0.11 kg/kg pine wood) were not affected by the torrefaction pre-treatment of acid leached pine wood. In general, torrefaction of acid leached pine wood followed by fast pyrolysis showed similar total organics, char, gas, light oxygenates and produced water yields compared to fast pyrolysis of acid leached pine wood. Contrary, when acid leaching is applied after torrefaction the organics (dry bio-oil) and light oxygenates yields are quite comparable to the results of untreated pine wood fast pyrolysis. nema