Abstract

ROJAS BARAHONA, Ángel Francisco  and  ARISTIZABAL TORRES, Iván Darío. Effect of Moisture Content on Some Mechanical Properties of Vitabosa (Mucuna deeringiana) Seeds. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2012, vol.65, n.1, pp.6553-6566. ISSN 0304-2847.

Abstract. Vitabosa seed (Mucuna deeringiana) is an alternative protein source for animal feed production. Currently in Colombia gets a poor use of this seed by not knowing of its nutritional potential, its medicinal properties, agroindustrial process. The mechanical properties are important for efficient design of equipment and structures in post-harvest processes. Presently, measurement methodologies for evaluating the mechanical properties of different vegetable materials and in some cases are not known, which does not allow suitable comparison and interpretation of results difficult to model some technological processes. The mechanical properties were assessed at different moisture levels and in different planes of the seed, with uniaxial compression tests and the grinding energy consumption was evaluated in an oscillating hammer mill. The proportional deformability modulus decreased when the moisture and the unitary deformation were increased, being higher in the horizontal side and the lowest value in the longitudinal side. The rupture force varied in the three sides of the seed and it decreased significantly (P<0.05) when increased moisture in the longitudinal and transverse side, while in the horizontal side increase when increased moisture of 10 to 14% w.b. The deformation increased significantly (P<0.05) with moisture from the moisture ranges from 10 to 14% w.b. The absorbed energy was increased when the moisture content varied from 10 to 14% w.b., for moisture content greater that 14% w.b., it decreased in all three planes tested. In the milling process, the specific energy consumption was proportional to the moisture content of the seed.

Keywords : Rheology; biodiversity; animal feed; biomaterial.

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