MOISTURE DIFFUSIVITY OF CORN KERNEL COMPONENTS DURING ADSORPTION .1. GERM

Moisture adsorption tests were conducted using corn germ and composite corn kernels under the humid air conditions of 75, 80, and 90% relati ve humidity and 25, 30, 35, and 40-degrees-C temperature. Moisture dif fusivity values were estimated based on the analytical Fick's diffusio n model assuming corn germ and corn as an infinite slab. The mean mois ture diffusivity of corn germ increased with air temperature (0.19 x 1 0(-7) to 0.66 x 10(-7) m2/h) and decreased with air relative humidity (0.27 x 10(-7) to 0.60 x 10(-7) m2/h). Moisture diffusivity values of corn germ were about two to five times lower than those of the composi te corn kernel.