Thermal Properties of New Developed Nigerian Illa and Ekpoma Rice Flour Varieties as Effected with Moisture Content

Thermal parameters of food flour moisture content and temperature give an insight in the development and prediction of models that meet the needs of process design models, it also determine the thermal load of a particular product during handling. The bulk density (ρ), thermal conductivity (k), specific-heat capacity (Cp) and diffusivity (α) of Illa and Ekpoma rice flour were studied at varied (MC) moisture content (%) level. The results showed significance in thermal properties values at the different MC levels. The MC increased from 10.56 to 18.50%, increased the specific heat capacity (Cp) from 5.72 to 48.61kJ kg-1 °C-1 and 6.84 to 29.41 kJ kg-1 °C-1 for Illa and Ekpoma rice variety respectively and thermal conductivity(k) from 0.03 to 1.56 W/m0C and 0.03 to 0.38 W m-1 °C-1 for Illa and Ekpoma rice flour samples. Thermal diffusivity(α) and bulk density (ρ) of the processed Illa and Ekpoma rice flour samples decreased across the MC range of 10.56 to 18.50% (d.b). Thermal diffusivity(α) decreased from 4.38 to 1.25 x 10-4 m2 s-1 and 3.42 to 1.30 x 10-4 m2 s-1 for Illa and Ekpoma rice flour respectively while the values of bulk density (ρ) decreased from 697.72 to 676.34 kg m-3 and 687.49 to 664.26 kg m-3 for Illa and Ekpoma rice flour respectively.The developed model equations can be applied in estimation of thermal parameters of rice flour. Finally, Ekpoma and Illa rice flour sample displayed good thermal characteristics and it can be used as an alternative to imported wheat flour.