Development and Testing of a Novel Semi-Automatic Machine for the Production of Powdered Tomatoes

Abstract

Increasing food production or decreasing post-harvest losses improves food security. Harvesting, cooling, storage, infrastructure, packaging, and marketing systems contribute to pre-consumer food losses. Poor food supply chain management, seasonal production fluctuations, and farmers and intermediaries preferring urban markets over processors due to low farm gate prices are estimated to be annual losses of over 45 percent (750,000 metric tonnes) of tomatoes produced in Nigeria. This study designed, built, and tested an innovative tomato powder processing plant. After extensive research, a new semi-automatic machine for powdering tomatoes was technically and economically feasible. Engineers, environmentalists, and personal safety professionals can address any safety concerns. Researchers designed a plant to process 1 kg of raw tomatoes per day. Twelve hours per day, 280 days per year, 140 kg of tomato powder was produced. The best process route was synthesised from these specifications. Solar thermal drying (as a drying process) was chosen for the process route. To dry tomato powder on an industrial scale, researchers found that spray-drying was the most efficient, low-cost and straightforward method. Controlling particle size was also simple with this technology. The system included a blanching machine, a solar thermal dryer, and a blender.