Effect of Passive Solar Drying on the Quality Characteristics of Apricots
Source abstract
Abstract
Currently, there is no cost-effective drying approach for apricots that effectively preserves color and prevents browning. Using a psychrometric chamber to simulate environmental conditions in Malatya, Turkey, apricots were dried, with freeze-dried samples serving as a control. The samples were analyzed for their water and nutritional contents as well as chemical and structural evaluation. The Agricycle® passive solar drier was tested for its ability to dry apricots while reducing browning. Freeze-dried samples appeared whiter (bleached), whereas passive solar-dried apricots retained their natural color. The results showed that passive solar drying successfully reduced the water content to below 20% (11.92%) and limited browning, based on visual inspection and colorimetry. Nutritionally, passive solar-dried apricots had comparable total phenolics to freeze-dried samples (2.72 vs. 4.06 GAE/g dry mass), but higher vitamin C (1.86 vs. 1.11 mg/g dry mass) and lower dissolved solids (45.36 vs. 73.02 °Brix). The microstructural analysis revealed notable differences between drying methods. Overall, the Agricycle® passive solar drier offers a simple, cost-effective solution for fruit drying.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Food Drying and Modeling · Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management · Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Program, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Physics and Chemistry Department, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Mechanical Engineering Department, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
References (49)
Show source-provided references
1. Assessment of variability in morphological characters of apricot germplasm of Kashmir, India10.1016/j.scienta.2017.07.029 ↗
2. Akhone, M.A., Bains, A., Tosif, M.M., Chawla, P., Fogarasi, M., and Fogarasi, S. (2022). Apricot Kernel: Bioactivity, Characterization, Applications, and Health Attributes. Foods, 11.10.3390/foods11152184 ↗
3. Karatas, N. (2022). Evaluation of Nutritional Content in Wild Apricot Fruits for Sustainable Apricot Production. Sustainability, 14.10.3390/su14031063 ↗
4. Zhao, C., Sun, J., Pu, X., Shi, X., Cheng, W., and Wang, B. (2022). Volatile Compounds Analysis and Biomarkers Identification of Four Native Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars Grown in Xinjiang Region of China. Foods, 11.10.3390/foods11152297 ↗
5. Kafkaletou, M., Velliou, A., Christopoulos, M., Ouzounidou, G., and Tsantili, E. (2023). Impact of Cold Storage Temperature and Shelf Life on Ripening Physiology, Quality Attributes, and Nutritional Value in Apricots—Implication of Cultivar. Plants, 12.10.3390/plants12152875 ↗
6. Yang, Q., Hu, C., Li, J., Xiao, H., Jia, W., Wang, X., Liu, X., Tang, Z., Chen, B., and Yi, X. (2024). Effects of Different Natural Drying Methods on Drying Characteristics and Quality of Diaogan apricots. Agriculture, 14.10.3390/agriculture14050660 ↗
7. The Development of Apricot Prodcution and Foreign Trade in the World and in Turkey
8. Al-Soufi, M.H., Alshwyeh, H.A., Alqahtani, H., Al-Zuwaid, S.K., Al-Ahmed, F.O., Al-Abdulaziz, F.T., Raed, D., Hellal, K., Mohd Nani, N.H., and Zubaidi, S.N. (2022). A Review with Updated Perspectives on Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits of Apricot and the Industrial Application of Its Underutilized Parts. Molecules, 27.10.3390/molecules27155016 ↗
9. (2025, October 11). Climate Data. Available online: https://en.climate-data.org/asia/turkey/malatya/malatya-281/.
10. Apricot Production Forecast of the Leading Countries in The Period of 2018–202510.9755/ejfa.2021.v33.i8.2744 ↗
11. A Comprehensive Analysis of Apricot Drying Methods via Multi-Criteria Decision Making Techniques10.1111/jfpe.14759 ↗
12. Zengin, R., Uğur, Y., Levent, Y., Erdoğan, S., Hatterman-Valenti, H., and Kaya, O. (2025). Sun-Drying and Melatonin Treatment Effects on Apricot Color, Phytochemical, and Antioxidant Properties. Appl. Sci., 15.10.3390/app15020508 ↗
13. Drying and the Different Techniques
14. Impact of different drying parameters on color, β-carotene, antioxidant activity and minerals of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)10.1590/1678-457X.0086 ↗
15. The influence of color on taste perception
16. Quality and nutritional property changes in stored dried apricots fumigated by sulfur dioxide10.1007/s13580-015-0041-1 ↗
17. Does the high sulfur content in apricots affect oxidative stress? Running title: Effect of sulfur amount on oxidative stress10.5455/medscience.2022.02.029 ↗
18. Malatya: World’s Capital of Apricot Culture
19. Study on sulfitation of fruits and berries: Methods of sulfitation and desulfitation10.1051/e3sconf/202449703020 ↗
20. Gao, J.-R., Li, M.-Y., Cheng, Z.-Y., Liu, X.-Y., Yang, H., Li, M.-T., He, R.-Y., Zhang, Q., and Yang, X.-H. (2024). Effects of Different Drying Methods on Drying Characteristics and Quality of Small White Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Agriculture, 14.10.3390/agriculture14101716 ↗
21. Yang, Q., Yi, X., Xiao, H., Wang, X., Liu, L., Tang, Z., Hu, C., and Li, X. (2024). Effects of Different Drying Methods on Drying Characteristics, Microstructure, Quality, and Energy Consumption of Apricot Slices. Foods, 13.10.3390/foods13091295 ↗
22. Recent development in high quality drying of fruits and vegetables assisted by ultrasound: A review10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110744 ↗
23. Chemical composition of apricots affected by fruit size and drying methods10.1080/07373937.2018.1427762 ↗
24. Zhang, X., Li, M., Zhu, L., Geng, Z., Liu, X., Cheng, Z., Zhao, M., Zhang, Q., and Yang, X. (2023). Sea Buckthorn Pretreatment, Drying, and Processing of High-Quality Products: Current Status and Trends. Foods, 12.10.3390/foods12234255 ↗
25. Changes in quality of microwave-treated agricultural products—A review10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2007.06.006 ↗
26. Infrared Drying and Effective Moisture Diffusivity of Apricot Halves: Influence of Pretreatment and Infrared Power10.1111/jfpp.12827 ↗
27. Recent Applications and Potential of Infrared Dryer Systems for Drying Various Agricultural Products: A Review10.1080/15538362.2019.1616243 ↗
28. Kuhn, K., Strnad, C., Bowman, P., Young, K., Kroll, E., DeBruine, A., Knudson, I., Navin, M., Cheng, Q., and Swedish, M. (2024). Validation of a Passive Solar Drying System Using Pineapple. Foods, 13.10.3390/foods13193081 ↗
29. Validation of Solar Dehydrator for Food Drying Applications: A Granny Smith Apple Study10.15377/2409-983X.2022.09.2 ↗
30. Liu, C., Lv, M., Du, H., Deng, H., Zhou, L., Li, P., Li, X., and Li, B. (2023). Effect of Preliminary Treatment by Pulsed Electric Fields and Blanching on the Quality of Fried Sweet Potato Chips. Foods, 12.10.3390/foods12112147 ↗
31. Nardini, M. (2022). Phenolic Compounds in Food: Characterization and Health Benefits. Molecules, 27.10.3390/molecules27030783 ↗
32. Sui, X., Meng, Z., Dong, T., Fan, X., and Wang, Q. (2023). Enzymatic browning and polyphenol oxidase control strategies. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 81.10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102921 ↗
33. Zhang, S. (2023). Recent Advances of Polyphenol Oxidases in Plants. Molecules, 28.10.3390/molecules28052158 ↗
34. Giannakourou, M.C., and Taoukis, P.S. (2021). Effect of Alternative Preservation Steps and Storage on Vitamin C Stability in Fruit and Vegetable Products: Critical Review and Kinetic Modelling Approaches. Foods, 10.10.3390/foods10112630 ↗
35. Comparison of Two Methods for The Determination of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in Some Fruits10.20448/812.2.1.1.7 ↗
36. Calín-Sánchez, Á., Lipan, L., Cano-Lamadrid, M., Kharaghani, A., Masztalerz, K., Carbonell-Barrachina, Á.A., and Figiel, A. (2020). Comparison of Traditional and Novel Drying Techniques and Its Effect on Quality of Fruits, Vegetables and Aromatic Herbs. Foods, 9.10.3390/foods9091261 ↗
37. United States Department of Agriculture (2025, October 11). Commodity Specification for Dried Fruit, Available online: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CommoditySpecificationDriedFruitAugust%202019.pdf.
38. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and World Health Organization (2025, October 11). General Standard for Dried Fruits. Available online: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/hu/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCXS%2B360-2020%252FCXS_360e.pdf.
39. A Review of Discoloration in Fruits and Vegetables: Formation Mechanisms and Inhibition10.1080/87559129.2022.2119997 ↗
40. Postharvest Management and Chemical Treatments for Apricot Preservation in Pakistan
41. Influence of processing conditions of atmospheric freeze-drying/low-temperature drying on the drying kinetics of sliced fruits and their vitamin C retention
42. Coşkun, N., Sarıtaş, S., Jaouhari, Y., Bordiga, M., and Karav, S. (2024). The Impact of Freeze Drying on Bioactivity and Physical Properties of Food Products. Appl. Sci., 14.10.20944/preprints202409.0950.v1 ↗
43. Effect of drying methods on free and bound phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities, and bioaccessibility of Cornelian cherry10.1007/s00217-024-04552-6 ↗
44. Influence of processing methods and storage on phenolic compounds and carotenoids of apricots10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109846 ↗
45. (2025, October 11). Yara North America. Available online: https://www.yara.us/crop-nutrition/citrus/managing-total-soluble-solids/.
46. Growth and ripening stage at harvest modulates postharvest quality and bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity
47. Menzel, C.M. (2022). Effect of Temperature on Soluble Solids Content in Strawberry in Queensland, Australia. Horticulturae, 8.10.3390/horticulturae8050367 ↗
48. Classification of Apricot Varieties by Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning10.1021/acsagscitech.5c00068 ↗
49. Development of functional apricot pulp powder: A sustainable approach to prevent post-harvest loss10.1016/j.foohum.2025.100746 ↗