Evaluation of the performance of three drying technologies and three loading densities for the production of cassava chips

Three different drying technologies and loading densities were assessed for their influence on the quality of cassava flour. Sliced cassava pulps were dried using sun (direct exposure to sunlight), solar (indirect drying using a solar harvester) and bin (heated metal box) at different loading densities (2, 3 and 4 kg m^-2). Parameters studied included moisture content and pasting characteristics. The results showed that bin drying at 4 kg m^-2 loading density produced the lowest moisture content of 6.8%. Bin drying had the lowest cooking temperature (67.9°C). Solar drying at 4 kg 
m^-2 loading density resulted in the highest final viscosity of 293.4 BU whereas Bin drying at 4 kg m^-2 loading density had the highest breakdown of value 413.00 BU. Generally, drying using sun and solar technologies produced flours of acceptable pasting qualities suitable for industrial use.