Dehydration of Moringa leaves using microcontroller and IoT controlled electrical dryer

Abstract

The dehydration of Moringa Oleifera leaves is crucial to preserving their high nutritional value and extending shelf life for use in food and pharmaceutical applications. Traditional drying methods often result in nutrient degradation and lack precise environmental control. This study presents the design and implementation of an internet of things (IoT)- enabled electrical dryer system controlled by a microcontroller for the efficient dehydration of Moringa leaves. The system integrates temperature and humidity sensors, an Arduino Mega microcontroller, and a web-based interface for real-time monitoring and control. The electrical dryer maintains optimal drying conditions, significantly reducing moisture content while preserving essential nutrients. Data is logged and visualized through IoT connectivity, allowing for remote access and performance analysis. The dehydration of Moringa leaves requires approximately one kg of electricity for batteries in dual-energy dryers, which are based on microcontrollers and the IoT. The results demonstrate that the proposed system offers a reliable, energy-efficient, and scalable solution for the controlled dehydration of Moringa leaves, with potential applications in smart agriculture and postharvest processing. The excellent drying time is achieved in a greenhouse dryer, which maintains a temperature of 45 °C within the drying chamber, resulting in a median drying time of 6 hours. The standard moisture percentage of clean and dry Moringa leaves is measured at 18.5% (wb) and 8% (wb), respectively.