INFLUENCE OF CELLULAR MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY ON DRYING BEHAVIOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT The basic transport equations and alternative cellular membrane permeability definitions are reviewed. An analysis of data on osmotic and diffusional permeability and a discussion of boundary layer resistances allows a representative water permeability value to be chosen. The rate of drying for a cellular membrane water permeability controlled drying experiment is then predicted for two extreme cases of convective contribution to the diffusional rate. Experimental results indicate that in the case of apples the drying phenomenon is not controlled by the cellular permeability.