Equilibrium Moisture Content of Semi-Defatted Pumpkin Seed Flour

Abstract

Moisture equilibrium data (adsorption and desorption) of semi-defatted (fat 10.6 % wet basis) pumpkin seed flour were determined using the static gravimetric method of saturated salt solutions at three temperatures 10 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C. The range of water activities for each temperature was between 0.11 and 0.85. Equilibrium moisture content decreased with the increase in storage temperature at any given water activity. The experimental data were fitted to five mathematical models (modified Oswin, modified Halsey, modified Chung-Pfost, modified Henderson and Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer). The GAB model was found to be the most suitable for describing the sorption data. The monolayer moisture content was estimated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller equation.