Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.33128/ag.79.1-2.1

PREDRYING OF STEVIA LEAVES (STEVIA REBAUDIANA) AS THE FEED ADDITIVE BY USING LOW-ENERGY LASER RADIATION

Ante Galić orcid.org/0000-0002-0155-7228 ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Stjepan Pliestić ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nadica Dobričević ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sandra Voća orcid.org/0000-0003-0571-0872 ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jana Šic Žlabur orcid.org/0000-0002-3232-585X ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

The goal is to process Stevia leaves into dried powder as a natural sweetener feed compound. A laboratory laser beam drying method for Stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana) is presented. Leaves were illuminated on one side during a period of 300 s with 100 mW 655 nm and 200 mW 660 nm collimated coherent light. Both sources of coherent light were in the red part of the visible spectrum of light. Freshly harvested Stevia leaves with 63.20% of moisture were used for the analysis. Low-energy laser beam treatment for a period of 300 s resulted in the reduction of moisture content of 0.3576% in 100 mW laser treatment and 0.3655% in the 200 mW laser treatment. The proposed method allows fast drying and effective reduction of humidity without causing damage to the plant material. For practical application, dryers with integrated laser diode network are proposed. Low power coherent radiation treatment represents an inexpensive and environmentally safe method that does not pollute the environment. This method also provides close control of the process, and in spite of the higher cost of energy, the overall increase in drying efficiency can bring about significant economic savings.

Keywords

Stevia leaves; predrying; feed additive; laser

Hrčak ID:

185991

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/185991

Publication date:

28.8.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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