Coffee bean particle motion in a spouted bed measured using Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT)

Coffee roasting is a heat treatment process that transforms green coffee into product can subsequently be ground and brewed. Understanding critical in developing new downstream processes formulations, as well optimising existing ones. Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) allows tracking of particles equipment has been used here to characterise particle dynamics beans within spouted bed roaster subject varying air-to-bean ratios without roasting. Occupancy profiles associated with each ratio have determined two distinct regions identified: (i) dense bean high occupancy (ii) dilute freeboard lower occupancy. Results also revealed the effect density on roaster. Overall, this work demonstrates PEPT useful tool generate data regarding granular flow patterns roasters might improve mass transfer models for