Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality

The drying process is essential in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production, significantly influencing product quality and energy consumption. This study compares four drying methods: sun drying (SD), solar-electric hybrid drying (HD), SD followed by HD (SD + HD), and HD followed by SD (HD + SD). The p...

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Main Authors: Johanna Pita-Garcia, José Reinoso-Tigre, Sócrates Palacios-Ponce, Emerita Delgado-Plaza, Diana Coello-Montoya, Rómulo Salazar, Jonathan Coronel-León, Juan Peralta, Fabiola Cornejo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025012654
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author Johanna Pita-Garcia
José Reinoso-Tigre
Sócrates Palacios-Ponce
Emerita Delgado-Plaza
Diana Coello-Montoya
Rómulo Salazar
Jonathan Coronel-León
Juan Peralta
Fabiola Cornejo
author_facet Johanna Pita-Garcia
José Reinoso-Tigre
Sócrates Palacios-Ponce
Emerita Delgado-Plaza
Diana Coello-Montoya
Rómulo Salazar
Jonathan Coronel-León
Juan Peralta
Fabiola Cornejo
author_sort Johanna Pita-Garcia
collection DOAJ
description The drying process is essential in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production, significantly influencing product quality and energy consumption. This study compares four drying methods: sun drying (SD), solar-electric hybrid drying (HD), SD followed by HD (SD + HD), and HD followed by SD (HD + SD). The physicochemical properties (shrinkage, fermentation index, pH, total acidity, color), bioactive compounds (total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity), and drying efficiency (drying rate, effective moisture diffusivity, energy consumption) were assessed. Results show that HD and HD + SD effectively preserve cocoa's physicochemical and antioxidant properties. Starting with HD increases the drying rate by 20 %, resulting in higher moisture diffusivity coefficients (over 4.12 × 10−7 m2/s). Combining HD with SD reduces energy consumption by 56.6 %, improving energy efficiency. SD increased cocoa bean shrinkage by up to 9 %, and HD maintained phenolic content. The HD + SD method is, therefore, a promising, energy-efficient alternative for small-scale cocoa producers, contributing to industry innovation and sustainability.
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spelling doaj-art-fbdb7a95665d43779521ef0948ef60872025-08-20T02:45:07ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-02-01114e4288410.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42884Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and qualityJohanna Pita-Garcia0José Reinoso-Tigre1Sócrates Palacios-Ponce2Emerita Delgado-Plaza3Diana Coello-Montoya4Rómulo Salazar5Jonathan Coronel-León6Juan Peralta7Fabiola Cornejo8Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico Sustentable, ESPOL, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico Sustentable, ESPOL, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico Sustentable, ESPOL, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Corresponding author.The drying process is essential in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production, significantly influencing product quality and energy consumption. This study compares four drying methods: sun drying (SD), solar-electric hybrid drying (HD), SD followed by HD (SD + HD), and HD followed by SD (HD + SD). The physicochemical properties (shrinkage, fermentation index, pH, total acidity, color), bioactive compounds (total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity), and drying efficiency (drying rate, effective moisture diffusivity, energy consumption) were assessed. Results show that HD and HD + SD effectively preserve cocoa's physicochemical and antioxidant properties. Starting with HD increases the drying rate by 20 %, resulting in higher moisture diffusivity coefficients (over 4.12 × 10−7 m2/s). Combining HD with SD reduces energy consumption by 56.6 %, improving energy efficiency. SD increased cocoa bean shrinkage by up to 9 %, and HD maintained phenolic content. The HD + SD method is, therefore, a promising, energy-efficient alternative for small-scale cocoa producers, contributing to industry innovation and sustainability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025012654Combined drying technologiesDrying rateEnergy consumptionBioactive compoundsAntioxidant capacity
spellingShingle Johanna Pita-Garcia
José Reinoso-Tigre
Sócrates Palacios-Ponce
Emerita Delgado-Plaza
Diana Coello-Montoya
Rómulo Salazar
Jonathan Coronel-León
Juan Peralta
Fabiola Cornejo
Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
Heliyon
Combined drying technologies
Drying rate
Energy consumption
Bioactive compounds
Antioxidant capacity
title Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
title_full Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
title_fullStr Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
title_full_unstemmed Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
title_short Impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
title_sort impact of combined sun and hybrid drying technologies on cocoa drying process and quality
topic Combined drying technologies
Drying rate
Energy consumption
Bioactive compounds
Antioxidant capacity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025012654
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