Join us for the PhD thesis defence of Ellyas Alga Nainggolan. The defence of the thesis “Influence of Drying Pretreatment on Oven and Solar Drying of Cassava Tubers (Manihot esculenta)”, prepared at the Department of Sustainable Technologies within the study programme Sustainable Rural Development, will take place on 9th September 2025, 11:30 a.m., meeting room 313 (building FTZ).
The dissertation by Ellyas Alga Nainggolan investigates the optimization of cassava flour production through a comprehensive evaluation of pretreatment methods and drying systems. Fresh cassava tubers underwent chemical, thermal, and soaking pretreatments before being dried using oven and solar systems. The study employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize oven drying parameters, achieving improved moisture reduction, whiteness index, and sensory attributes. Mathematical modelling identified the logarithmic model as most suitable for oven drying and the Wang and Singh model for solar drying. Application of optimized pretreatment in solar drying enhanced drying kinetics, effective moisture diffusivity, and physicochemical quality, while preserving starch granule structure. The findings demonstrate that integrating optimized pretreatments with controlled drying protocols can significantly improve cassava flour’s nutritional, sensory, and functional properties, supporting sustainable, energy-efficient processing for industrial and small-scale applications.