Question

What is hysteresis effect?

(a) Difference between desorption and adsorption curve

(b) Difference between desorption and absorption curve

(c) Difference between relative humidity and adsorption curve

(d) Difference between relative humidity and absorption curve

I got this question in a national level competition.

My question is taken from Drying topic in portion Drying of Food Processing Unit Operations

Answer 1

Correct choice is (a) Difference between desorption and adsorption curve

The explanation is: Hysteresis effect is defined as the difference between desorption and adsorption curve. This effect is detected due to the shrinkage effect during desorption that changes the water binding properties of the food product. Therefore, same path of EMC is not observed during adsorption.