Drying and conservation conditions of pollen

In this study, drying and conservation conditions of pollens (for Anzer Honey) were experimentally investigated, and the general drying curve equation was derived by applying the Least Squares Method. Drying experiments were conducted in solar- and electric-assisted dryers. Pollens were placed on the shelves as 50 eachg in a single layer having a depth of 2.5 mm. During the drying experiments, the shelf temperatures of the drying cupboard were regulated between 40 °C and 45 °C. Weight losses, moisture contents and mass shrinkage of pollens and average temperatures in the shelves were determined and calculated based on drying time. Additionally, the experimental uncertainty values were calculated as approximately 18%, depending on the experimental results. It was concluded that pollens should be dried at temperatures between 40 °C and 45 °C for between 2.5 and 3h so as not to change the colour, flavour, smell and structure, and conserved in brown bottles under vacuum in a shady medium. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.