OPTIMASI PROSES PENGERINGAN CABE MERAH MENGGUNAKAN ZEOLIT ALAM

Abstract

Natural zeolite is easy to find at several place in Indonesia. Mostly natural zeolite used for poultry and smallest industry. The natural zeolite utilize for adsorben in drying process is the new thing. This is because natural zeolite have porosity structure, hence natural zeolite can adsorb small molecule, same like water. The purpose of this research is to set up the drying equitment, to study the performance of natural zeolite for drying process and to estimate the optimum condition of this process. The sample (Capsium Annum L.) take on tray in drying box. The air through out adsorben column, which natural zeolite present. Before used, natural zeolite is activated by H2SO4 with room temperature. The dry air from adsorben column will be adsorb water molecule from sampel. The result indicated that natural zeolite is potential adsorben for drying process, which the lost of water molecule from sample is 50%. This result is better than drying result by conventional drying (sun). By software Statistica 2002, the optimum condition and empirical model are obtained.