Breaking of apricot pits by using a mechanical system

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of heating process and warping effect on breaking of apricot pits and obtaining of its kernel without damage. For this aim, heating process (350°C) was applied to apricot pits. Heated pits were fallen onto the rotating disc and they were warped to warping wall by centrifuge effect. Warping velocity was adjusted by changing of rotating disc revolution that was driven by an electric engine. Three different disc revolution namely 400, 500 and 600 min-1 and 4 different moisture contents of apricot pits namely 6.7, 15.5, 22.2 and 31.5% were used in the experiments. As a result, it was found that increasing of moisture content was increased amount of breaking and also sound kernel ratio. Increasing of disc revolution increased ratio of damaged kernel. The highest breaking amount was determined for experiment with heated pits that had 31.5% moisture content and warped with 400 min-1 disk revolution. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.