Solar drying characteristics of papaya (Carica papaya) latex

Abstract

Abstract Dripped, congealed and a mixture of dripped and congealed papaya latexes of varying charge sizes were dried in a rock‐bed solar dryer over a temperature range of 40–60°C. The time taken for the fresh latex to dry from an initial moisture content of between 73 and 80% (wet basis) to an equilibrium moisture content of between 6 and 8% varied from about 1·5 to 36 h depending upon the charge size. The latex, whether dripped or congealed, dried as pale yellow flakes which could easily be powdered and had a proteolytic activity slightly higher than that of the fresh latex.