Browsing by Author "Wijeweera, A.A."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effect of Dryer Conditions on Quality of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) Quills Before Packaging
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Abeysinghe, M.G.D.; Wijeweera, A.A.; De Silva, P.D.P.M.; Alakolanga, A.G.A.W.
    Cinnamon is one of the major spices important in export economy. Improper drying of the cinnamon quills may cause to microbial and insect infestations on packed cinnamon quills and it causes quality deterioration of final product. This study was conducted to identify most suitable dryer condition to maintain the export quality of the cinnamon quills before packaging. The prepared cinnamon quills were dried at different temperatures (35, 40, 45 and 50ºC) for different time periods (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours) in dryer. The experiment was conducted as triplicate using 21 treatments with control (shade dried under room temperature, 24 hours). Moisture percentage (Dean and Stark method), oil yield (Clevenger arm method), water activity, microbial count (CFU), pest count per 100 g, cinnamaldehyde content (GCMS) and color (Munsell colour chart) of the cinnamon quills were measured before and after drying. Mean values of moisture contents under different treatments were less than 15% (Standard value).Mean values of oil contents under (35, 40 and 45ºC ) and (2, 3, and 4 hours) were greater than 1% but values (P > 0.05).Water activity of all treatments were less than 0.75 and 35ºC, 2 hours treatment was significantly differed from all other treatments except 35ºC, 3 hours (P < 0.05).Treatments under 35ºC, 3 hours and 35ºC, 2 hours conditions were resulted microbial growth but other treatments were not (P < 0.05). Zero pest count was in sample dried at 35ºC for 6 hours and temperatures higher than 35 ºC (P < 0.05). Mean values of cinnamaldehyde content were greater than 50% in all treatments. Colour did not vary changed significantly among different treatments. Temperature in between 40 – 45ºC for 2, 3, 4 hours were not adversely affected to the quality of cinnamon quills based on oil content, insect count and microbial count. Considering high oil content, microbial and pest count it can conclude that 40ºC, 3 hours is the optimum dryer condition to keep the export quality.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Evaluation of the Quality of Cinnamon Quills (Cinnamamum zeylanicum Blume) after Primary Processing in Matara District: A Case Study
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Dilanil, W.G.M.; Wijeweera, A.A.; Jayasinghc, H.A.S.L.; Jeewanthi, P.W.
    Ceylon cinnamon is an indigenous spice crop to Sri Lanka and the main export product is cinnamon quills. Maintenance the quality of cinnamon quills is a challenge as it is exposed to a wide range of contaminations during post-harvest practices. Cinnamon growers, processors and dealers not much concern about the maintenance of hygienic conditions. Therefore, this case study was conducted to evaluate the quality and major contaminations of cinnamon quills handled by different parties, viz., growers (T1), collectors (T2) and exporters (T3) present in Matara district. Three different parties and the control (T4) which prepared in the cinnamon research center were served as four treatments, Samples were collected proportionate to the population of each party and physical, chemical and biological properties of collected quills were compared with the control. Data analysis was done using Minitab 17 Statistical package using analysis of covariance. Moisture % of quills collected from growers (21.8%) statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared to quills handled by collectors and exporters. Oil content present in quills of control (1%) statistically on par with other three treatments. Sulphur was the major chemical contaminant present on cinnamon quills and it was significantly highest in exporter level as 20 ppm (P < 0.05). Quills collected from growers and collectors exhibited statistically same values for acid insoluble ash % (2.26 and 2.92, respectively), water activity (aw) (0.83 and 0.84, respectively) and bark colour while the collectors maintained significantly different insoluble ash % and a, collated to control and exporters (P < 0.05). Insects are the biological contaminants present in cinnamon quills and it was significantly highest in grower and collector levels, 75 and 68 per 100 g of quills, respectively. The results revealed that the attention paid by growers and collectors on possible contaminants and quality aspects of cinnamon quills in a poor stage.