ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effect of air-drying temperature and initial moisture content on volume shrinkage, physical quality and oil extraction yield of soybean grains. The grains used in this experiment were harvested at two distinct moisture levels of 19 and 25%. Then, these grains were taken to dryness at three different air temperatures of 75 °C, 90 °C and 105 °C, in a forced circulation convection oven of the air. The results showed a drying time reduction with increasing air temperatures. Regarding volume shrinkage, moisture content reductions influenced grain volume and the Rahman's model was the one that best fit the data. Moreover, the higher the air temperature, the greater the effects on soybean grain shrinkage and physical quality. By grain volume reduction effected on oil yield, major impacts were observed when assessing grain initial moisture content were higher. Furthermore, the temperature of 105°C and an initial moisture content of 25% were the factors that most affected soybean grain quality, however not affecting oil extraction yield.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência do teor de água inicial da soja e as temperaturas do ar de secagem sobre a cinética de secagem, qualidade do grão e encontrar o melhor modelo matemático que se ajustar aos dados de secagem experimental, a difusividade efetiva e o calor isostérico de dessorção. Foi adotado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado (DIC) com esquema fatorial (4 x 2), quatro temperaturas de secagem (75, 90, 105 e 120 ºC) e dois teores de água inicial (25 e 19% b.s.) com três repetições. O teor de água inicial do produto interferiu no tempo de secagem. O modelo de Wang e Singh mostrou-se mais adequado para descrever o processo de secagem dos grãos de soja para as faixas de temperaturas do ar de secagem de 75, 90, 105 e 120 ºC e teores de água iniciais de 19 e 25% (b.u.). A difusividade efetiva obtida da secagem dos grãos de soja foi maior (2,5 x 10-11 m2s-1) para a temperatura de 120 ºC e teores de água de 25% (b.s.). A secagem dos grãos de soja com temperaturas mais elevadas (acima de 105 ºC) e com maior teor de água inicial (25% b.u.) aumentou também a quantidade de energia (3894,57 kJ kg-1), ou seja, o calor isostérico de dessorção necessário para realizar o processo. A temperatura do ar de secagem e dos diferentes teores de água inicial afetou a qualidade dos grãos de soja ao longo do tempo de secagem (condutividade elétrica de 540,35 µS cm-1g-1), no entanto, não interferiu no rendimento de óleo final extraído dos grãos de soja (15,69%).

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the initial moisture content of soybeans and the drying air temperatures on drying kinetics and grain quality, and find the best mathematical model that fit the experimental data of drying, effective diffusivity and isosteric heat of desorption. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD), with a factorial scheme (4 x 2), four drying temperatures (75, 90, 105 and 120 ºC) and two initial moisture contents (25 and 19% d.b.), with three replicates. The initial moisture content of the product interferes with the drying time. The model of Wang and Singh proved to be more suitable to describe the drying of soybeans to temperature ranges of the drying air of 75, 90, 105 and 120 °C and initial moisture contents of 19 and 25% (d.b.). The effective diffusivity obtained from the drying of soybeans was higher (2.5 x 10-11 m2 s-1) for a temperature of 120 °C and water content of 25% (d.b.). Drying of soybeans at higher temperatures (above 105 °C) and higher initial water content (25% d.b.) also increases the amount of energy (3894.57 kJ kg-1), i.e., the isosteric heat of desorption necessary to perform the process. Drying air temperature and different initial moisture contents affected the quality of soybean along the drying time (electrical conductivity of 540.35 µS cm-1g-1); however, not affect the final yield of the oil extracted from soybean grains (15.69%).