Abstract

ROJAS BARAHONA, Ángel Francisco  and  ARISTIZABAL TORRES, Iván Darío. EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF VITABOSA BEAN (MUCUNA DEERINGIANA) GRAINS. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2011, vol.64, n.1, pp.5961-5971. ISSN 0304-2847.

The vitabosa seed (Muccuna deeringiana) is a protein source alternative for the animal food production, currently in Colombia there is a low use of this seed by the ignorance of its nutritional high potential, medicinal, phytosanitary properties and their postharvest process. Is necessary to obtain knowledge of seed physical properties, which are important in the agro-industrial processes of this legume. For four moisture contents (10, 14, 18 and 22% w.b.) several physical properties were evaluated. The length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameters, angle of repose increased significantly when the moisture content increased from 10 to 22%, while sphericity did not vary significantly with moisture. The projected area increased with moisture in the three orientation planes (horizontal, transverse and longitudinal). In six different material surfaces the static friction coefficient (mo) was evaluated. In all surfaces mo increased significantly with the humidity, also there was differs significantly among the surfaces studied, being in order of bigger to minor: rubber, Plyvinyl Chloride (PVC), canvas, stainless steel, galvanized iron and chipboard. Information generated is very useful for postharvest processing equipment design and quality control of this seed.

Keywords : Vitabosa; Mucuna deeringiana; physical properties; moisture content.

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