Optimizing thin-layer solar drying of green peas with zeolite under challenging environmental conditions

Abstract

Solar drying is a sustainable technique for food preservation, but its efficiency drops significantly under low solar radiation and high humidity conditions. This study addresses this challenge by integrating clinoptilolite zeolite as a passive moisture adsorbent into a thin-layer solar dryer and evaluating its effect on green pea drying performance under suboptimal spring conditions in Balıkesir, Turkey. Two experimental trials, conventional and zeolite-enhanced, were conducted on consecutive days with closely matched weather profiles.