Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the drying characteristics of Penaeus vannamei in superheated steam. The drying experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 130–160 ℃. Non-linear fitting analysis of the experimental data was carried out using six common drying models to determine and validate the optimal drying model. Further, Effective moisture diffusion coefficients at different temperatures were calculated, and the relationship between effective moisture diffusion coefficient and temperature was established according to the Arrhenius equation. The results showed that the superheated steam drying of Penaeus vannamei was a falling rate drying process, and the drying temperature had a significant effect on the drying process. The higher drying temperature could result in a greater drying rate. Under certain experimental conditions, the experimental data were best fitted to the Logarithmic model. The drying model could accurately estimate the water loss rate of Penaeus vannamei during the drying process at different temperatures of superheated steam. As the superheated steam temperature increased, the effective diffusion coefficient increased from 3.186 08 × 10-9 to 7.289 72 × 10-9 m2/s, with an activation energy of 39.631 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the color of dried product was better at lower drying temperatures, but excessively higher temperatures had a negative effect on it. Considering both the drying rate and the dried product quality, the superheated steam temperature should not exceed 150 ℃.

Key words: Penaeus vannamei, superheated steam drying, models, effective diffusivity coefficient, activation energy