Telis-Romero, J.Gabas, A. L.Menegalli, F. C.Telis, VRN2014-05-202014-05-202001-01-01Proceedings of the Second Inter-american Drying Conference. Veracruz 91860: Isnt Tecnologico Veracruz, p. 243-251, 2001.http://hdl.handle.net/11449/32581Fresh persimmon has a high moisture content (about 85% wet basis) making it highly perishable and requiring adequate drying conditions to obtain an acceptable dehydrated product. Drying kinetics of persimmon cv. Rama Forte was studied in a fixed bed dryer at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 degreesC and air velocity of 0.8 m/s. Shrinkage during drying was described by a linear correlation with respect to water content. Evaluation of effective diffusivity as a function of moisture content, with undergoing shrinkage during drying was based on Fourier series solution of Fick's diffusion equation. Effective diffusivity values at moisture contents between 0.09 - 4.23 kg water/kg dry matter were found to be in the range of 2.6 x 10(-10) m(2)/s to 5.4 x 10(-10) m(2)/s, and its dependence on air drying temperature was represented by an Arrhenius type equation. Activation energy increased with decreasing water content in persimmons.243-251engdrying kineticseffective diffusivityshrinkageactivation energyTrabalho apresentado em eventoWOS:000172809000019Acesso aberto9457081088108168