Quality of Cocoons Dried by Solar and Electrical Drying

Abstract

This research studies quality of cocoon and silk obtained from solar drying, electrical drying and solar drying with electrical drying. The cocoon strains used in this study is Chul 1, 500 grams per experiment.In experimental, temperature is set to 70-90 degrees celsius, time interval of the drying samples were 6, 9, and 12 hours. The cocoon dried samples are tested at Chul Thai Silk Co., Ltd., Phetchaboon, Thailand, by silk-reeling method. We found that 1) t he cocoon dried by electrical drying has good quality in silk-reeling, provide 92.5 of cleanliness(2A), at 9 hours of drying time. 2) The cocoon dried by solar drying with electrical drying has good quality in silk-reeling, provide 94.0 of cleanliness (2A), at 9 hours of drying time. 3) The cocoon dried by solar drying has good quality in silk-reeling, provide 94.0 of cleanliness (2A), at 12 hours of drying time. A comparison between the energy saving ratio of electrical energy and the solar, the solar drying saved 87 % of energy cost. Therefore, solar drying for cocoon at 9-12 hours of drying time produce good quality of dried cocoon and silk, prolong shelf-life of cocoon.