The convective air drying of papaya seeds was studied in order to optimize the seed oil yield. Papaya seeds
were dried under different conditions of air temperature and air velocity. The operation was characterized
bydrying rate anddrying kinetic curves. Oil was extractedfromthe seeds, obtainedinalldrying conditions
and, the yield was optimized. The results revealed that the constant rate and falling rate periods occurred
during the convective air drying of papaya seeds. The Overhults kinetic model was suitable to represent
the experimental drying curves. The optimal drying conditions, which provided the maximum seed oil
yield, were: air temperature of 70 ◦C and air velocity of 2.0 m s−1. In these conditions, the seed oil yield
was 19.23% and the final moisture content was 7.40% (w.b.). High quality oil, with about 90% of oleic acid,
was obtained from papaya seeds.