Artificial curing of mechanically harvested Virginia-type peanuts

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to obtain information on the requirements for successfully drying mechanically harvested Virginia peanuts by artificial means.

The work was performed at the Tidewater Research Station, Holland, Virginia. It was performed in bulk-type bins which were seven feet deep. Two tests, which consisted of four treatments and four replications each, were conducted. One of the replication bins in each treatment was divided into one-foot depth sections.

The drying tests were conducted using intermittent heat which was designed to give the prescribed temperature rise when the ambient relative humidity was above 75 percent. The drying potential ranged from 12 cfm/ft³ and a 10 F temperature rise to 9 cfm/ft³ and a 3 F temperature rise. Original moisture contents of the peanuts tested were 43 percent and 31 percent.

Weights of the bins were taken during the tests, thereby permitting the calculation of the moisture contents at any time. Drying rate curves were obtained from this.

Quality analyses of the peanuts after drying were performed in order to determine the best drying treatment. These included: Fat Acidity, Shelling Damage, and Damaged Kernels from Commercial Grade.

The Shelling Damage Tests showed that the lowest drying potential was best. The Fat Acidity Test indicated that the drying potential in all of the treatments was satisfactory when drying Virginia peanuts with an original moisture of 31 percent in a seven-foot depth. However, it appeared that the potential was not adequate to dry peanuts with a 43 percent moisture content in a depth greater than five feet. No information was obtained from the damaged kernels in the commercial grade.

The resistance to air flow and the analyses of quality of the end product gave no indication that the sectioning of the bins had any effect on drying as compared with the full depth bins. This can be important in later research from the standpoint of obtaining additional data on drying rates and progression of the drying layer through bulk type bins of Virginia peanuts.