Bulk Physical and Thermal Properties of Cereal Grains as Affected by Moisture Content

Abstract

Specific gravity (true density), apparent density (bulk density), and thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat of rough rice, wheat. milled rice, corn and soybean were investigated. Except for corn and soybean, all the properties tested were investigated at different moisture contents. The apparent density with the exception of rough rice, was observed to increase with increase in moisture content. The thermal properties were found to be strongly dependent on moisture content of the materials and the dependence was observed to be linear in specific heat and thermal conductivity unlike in thermal diffusivity. The effect of apparent density on the thermal conductivity was also investigated and found to increase the thermal conductivity as it increases. The correlation between the properties was also investigated. There was a correlation between the properties except in milled rice.