Hydration Kinetics of Teff Grain

Abstract

Hydration kinetics of teff [Eragrostis teff (Zucc.) Trotter] grain was studied during soaking in water at the temperatures of 20℃, 30℃, 40℃ and 50℃ for 10 - 160 min.  The weight gain during soaking of the grains was used to calculate the moisture content (% db) and the data was fit to Peleg’s model.  Peleg’s model adequately predicted the water uptake of the teff grain under the experimental conditions investigated (r² = 0.97 – 0.99).   The Peleg rate constant, k₁, and capacity constant, k₂, decreased from 0.714 to 0.272 min %^-1and 0.043 to 0.025%^-1, respectively, with the increasing temperature from 20℃ to 50℃.  Arrhenius type equation described the temperature dependence of k₁ and k₂ with r² values of 0.91 and 0.98, respectively, and activation energy of 24.59 kJ mol^-1.  The strong correlation coefficient value of 0.97 - 0.99 indicated that Peleg’s model could be used to characterize the hydration kinetics of teff grain under the experimental conditions considered.

Keywords: teff, Peleg’s model, hydration, Ethiopia