Controlled Germination of Faba Beans: Drying, Thermodynamic Properties and Physical-Chemical Composition

The objective of this work was to determine the drying kinetics and the thermodynamic properties of the drying process of germinated seeds from faba beans of the Olho-de-VO Preta (OVP), Raio-de-Sol (RS) and Branca (B) varieties. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the germinated seeds and subsequent dried flours were determined. A thin layer of seeds were dried using a convective dryer at temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80 degrees C. Mathematical models were applied to the drying experimental data. The samples were further characterized for water content, water activity, ash, pH, alcohol-soluble acidity, total and reducing sugars, proteins, and starch. Page and Midilli models revealed the best predictions of the drying kinetics for all evaluated conditions. The effective diffusion coefficient increased with increasing temperature and presented magnitude in the order of 10(-9) m(2)/s. The activation energy presented results in the range of 19 and 27 kJ/mol, falling within the range reported for agricultural products. The entropy and enthalpy values were higher in the OVP, followed by RS, higher than in the B variety. The increase in drying temperature resulted in a reduction of enthalpy and entropy and an increase in Gibbs free energy, indicating that the drying process is endothermic and requires external energy. Samples have acidic pH and acidity decreased with drying; the RS and B varieties had higher sugar contents; the B variety had the highest protein contents, and these were obtained from the in natura germinated samples; in the B variety the highest starch content was obtained. All flours showed good characteristics, presenting themselves as an alternative for diversifying the supply of beans.