Medicinal Plant Drying Using a Superabsorbent Polymer Dryer Incorporated with an Insulated Heater

Abstract

In this study, a superabsorbent polymer dryer (Polydryer) used to obtain dried medicinal plant materials (Simplicia) was incorporated with a heater to enhance the drying rate. In general, the Polydryer was constructed using a cabinet containing polymer hydrogel (polygel), a gas-fueled heater, and a drying cabinet. A polygel synthesized from acrylic acid and cassava starch was utilized to reduce the moisture content in the drying air prior to entering the heater. The drying performance of the Polydryer with and without heater operation was investigated. The results showed that the drying in the Polydryer with heater operation required 18–26 h to attain a final moisture content of 8.8–10%, significantly faster than the Polydryer without heater employment (95–119 h). In addition, the drying of medicinal plants in the modified Polydryer followed the Page thin-drying model. The Simplicia products also showed a slightly lighter color, with no significant structural differences than those obtained without heat implementation. Overall, this drying machine is a time-effective and energy-efficient system that can be applied in pharmaceutical and agricultural industries on a large scale.