Diffusion of moisture in drying of sugar cane fibers and bundles

Sugar cane fibers and arrangements of fibers in cylindrical bundles were dr ied in a thermoanalyzer and their diffusive coefficients were calculated us ing the slope method. The effect of temperature, moisture content as well a s structural changes were analyzed. Diffusion coefficients changed nonlinea rly with moisture content and followed an Arrhenius-like functionality with temperature. The analysis of these effects suggested a liquid diffusion tr ansport mechanism of moisture transfer inside sugar cane fibers and bundles .