# A multiphase and multiscale mechanistic model for hot air drying of shiitake mushroom

## TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed model for drying shiitake mushrooms that helps understand how to preserve their quality during the process.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a new mechanistic model combining heat/mass transfer with material properties for mushroom drying.

## Key findings

- The model captures unique drying dynamics like evaporative cooling and temperature spikes.
- It identifies critical thresholds for maintaining cell membrane integrity using NMR data.
- The findings support optimizing drying processes to preserve rehydration quality.

## Abstract

A mechanistic multiphase, multiscale model is proposed to simulate mushroom drying, incorporating shrinkage, Flory-Huggins theory for water activity, viscoelasticity, alongside the heat and mass transfer. The model describes moisture and temperature evolution, capturing unique features of mushroom drying dynamics, such as sustained internal evaporative cooling, and a rapid increase in product temperature near the end of drying. This model enables the interpretation of T2 NMR investigations of drying, thereby revealing the conditions for the loss of cell membrane integrity. By integrating conductivity and NMR data, critical thresholds for maintaining cell membrane integrity were identified. The findings support further optimization of serial drying processes, while preserving membrane integrity for optimal rehydration.

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•A mechanistic model integrates heat/mass transfer with key material properties.•It captures unique drying dynamics like evaporative cooling and final temperature spike.•It enables NMR T2 interpretation, identifying critical cell membrane integrity thresholds.

A mechanistic model integrates heat/mass transfer with key material properties.

It captures unique drying dynamics like evaporative cooling and final temperature spike.

It enables NMR T2 interpretation, identifying critical cell membrane integrity thresholds.