A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991

The preservation of commercial quality standards of cardamoms during drying and processing is important to obtain premium prices in the export market of producing countries. Details of optimum processing parameters need to be established to continuously produce high quality processed cardamom. This study was made to test effects of drying temperatures and chemical pre- treatments on the accepted quality standards of cardamom. The cardamom capsules were treated with 2 % sodium carbonate and oven dried at temperatures of 35°C, 45°C and 55°C. A drying treatment having a 24-hour lag phase was also studied under the given temperatures. Tests on % moisture content, % chlorophyll removal, total oil and essential oil content, % splits and % out- turn were done to determine quality variations in all chemically treated and non- treated cardamom, based on commercially accepted quality standards. Similar studies were done with untreated cardamom. The drying data was fitted to an exponential drying model to obtain the empirical drying constant and drying exponent. The chlorophyll content was best retained in the chemically treated cardamom at a 45 °C drying temperature. The loss in total oil content was minimum at the chemically treated treatment at a 45°C drying temperature. The maximum terpenoids were retained at the 45°C untreated sample. The % splits were the least at the 45°C untreated continuously dried sample. The % out turn was highest at the 45 °C chemically treated sample. The recommended treatment conditions to meet the stipulated quality trade standards were found to be 45°C chemically treated continuously dried sample.