The sample was thin-layer dried in the batch fixed-bed dryer until the final moisture content was reached 0.5 % dr y basis . All drying con ditions were pe rformed at hot air veloci ty in the range of 1.8–2.2 m= s. Furtherm ore, the ex perimental setup for thick-lay er drying was unde rtaken for two diffe rent drying stra tegies, as illustrated in Fi g. 4.