Question Bank • QB_EXP_APE_EMC_001 MCQ • 1 Mark

Section 6: Agricultural Process Engineering

Equilibrium Moisture Content & Sorption Isotherms

Subtopic: Moisture sorption hysteresis definition

Question Statement:

The hysteresis loop observed in food and grain sorption isotherms means that at any given relative humidity (water activity):

Options:

  • (A) The equilibrium moisture content reached via desorption (drying) is strictly higher than that reached via adsorption (wetting)
  • (B) The equilibrium moisture content reached via adsorption is strictly higher than via desorption
  • (C) Desorption and adsorption isotherms coincide identically with zero difference
  • (D) Water activity is completely independent of temperature

Answer Key:

A

Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation

In moisture sorption isotherms of biological materials, desorption curves consistently lie above adsorption curves ($M_{e,\text{desorp}} > M_{e,\text{adsorp}}$) due to capillary ink-bottle neck trapping, contact angle hysteresis, and structural micro-pore collapse.
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