Determination of specific heat and thermal conductivity of mushrooms (Pleurotus florida)

The specific heat and thermal conductivity of mushrooms (Pleurotus florida) was determined for a moisture content (MC) range of 10.24-89.68% w.b. (wet basis) and temperature range of 40-70 degrees C. A third variable of bulk density (BD) was added with its three levels (111.06, 383.49, and 655.86 kg /m(3)) to see its effect in combination with other two input variables on t hermal conductivity of mushrooms. Both the thermal properties increased alm ost linearly with the increasing levels of input variables. Multiple regres sion models with high R-2 values were developed to correlate these properti es as a function of input variables. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveal ed that the moisture content had a highly significant effect on specific he at and thermal conductivity of mushrooms. Bulk density was also found to be highly significant affecting thermal conductivity of mushrooms. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.