Freeze Drying is the process by which the solvent of a solution is turned from solid state into gaseous state without going through the liquid state, that is to say that the solvent of a solution (generally water) is separated by sublimation. The Freeze Drying Plant allows to perform the entire freeze drying cycle, thus enabling the student to fully understand both the process and the problems involved in plant design. It is used to preserve foods such as fruit juices, vegetables, meat, and fish.
The Freeze Drying process consists of two stages:
First, the product to be dried is frozen below its freezing point.
Second the solvent, now in the solid state, is sublimated by heating under vacuum. Evaporated water is frozen on a very cold surface and then eliminated.
