THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF TAMARIND SEEDS (Tamarindus indica L.)

ABSTRACT Tamarind is used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, and its seed is the main means for the reproduction of this species, thus justifying studies that ensure its post-harvest viability. This research aimed to study the thermodynamic properties of tamarind seeds as a function of the equilibrium moisture content. The experimental data of the water activities were obtained by the indirect static method. The Cavalcanti Mata model was used to determine the thermodynamic properties of tamarind seeds, as it was the model that best fitted the experimental data of the desorption isotherms. The results showed that the thermodynamic properties are influenced by the moisture content and temperature, with an increase in the energy required to remove water from the product with a decrease in moisture content. The net isosteric heat of desorption increases with a reduction of moisture content ranging from 2,618.85 to 2,510.25 kJ kg−1 for the moisture content range of 10.52 to 21.10% db. The latent heat of vaporization, the differential enthalpy, and the Gibbs free energy increase with a reduction of the moisture content of tamarind seeds.