Dynamic Water Absorption by Foods

dynamic water absorption by foods

moisture, m(t)

time to reach x, t(x)

t

25.

x

0.9

m

0

0.25

m

e

1.

k

3.

axes maxima

moisture axis

1.4

time axis

50.

time to reach x

axis

50.

Dynamic water or water vapor absorption by food can frequently be described by an empirical model whose parameters are the initial and equilibrium moisture contents (

m

0

and

m

e

, respectively) and a single characteristic time constant,

k

. This Demonstration uses such a model to generate the moisture versus time relationship in moisture sorption from the atmosphere or water gain by soaking. It also generates a curve depicting the time it takes to reach a chosen fraction of the equilibrium (asymptotic) moisture or water content.