Comparative Study on the Effect of Drying Methods on the Plant Punica Granatum Using Shade, Solar, and Convective Drying in the Southwest of Algeria

The study evaluated three drying methods for pomegranate peels in Béchar, Algeria: shade, solar, and convective drying. Solar drying emerged as the most effective, achieving a 65.26% moisture reduction in 10 hours, compared to 43.33% for shade drying over 10 days and 36% for convective drying in 24 hours. Solar drying not only reduced moisture content quickly but also utilized renewable energy, making it an efficient and environmentally friendly option. The research underscores solar drying's potential for producing natural disinfectants from pomegranate peels, which are rich in beneficial bioactive compounds.