Poonam Rani

@teagasc.ie

Post Doctoral Researcher,
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland

Poonam Rani


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https://researchid.co/poonam.rani

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes, Food Science, Bioengineering, Agricultural and Biological Sciences
21

Scopus Publications

851

Scholar Citations

15

Scholar h-index

18

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Electrostatic spray drying of whey protein-carbohydrate systems: Influence of pH, water activity, and storage temperature on Maillard reactions
    Doll Chutani, Poonam Rani, Thom Huppertz, Eoin Murphy
    International Dairy Journal, 2026
    Maillard reactions continue during storage of dairy powders, but controlling mechanisms in low-moisture systems remain unclear. This study investigated whether drying technology directly determines reaction progression or acts indirectly by establishing the matrix’s physicochemical state. Whey protein-carbohydrate solutions (lactose or lactose-glucose mixtures, pH 6.0 or 8.0) were freeze-dried or spray-dried (electrostatic or conventional) to defined water activities, stored at 20 or 40 °C and Maillard markers monitored. Differences observed immediately after drying reflected pre-vitrification reactions, with greater early-stage reactions in conventional spray drying. During storage, reaction progression depended mainly on the relationship between storage temperature and glass transition temperature (T g ) rather than drying technology. When storage temperature approached T g , molecular mobility increased and glucose reactivity dominated, while initial pH had little influence. Overall, observations indicate a mobility-limited reaction regime post-matrix vitrification. Post-drying, Maillard markers reflected the influence of pre-vitrification reactions, whereas storage changes depended primarily storage temperature relative to T g .
  • Energy and Exergy Analyses in Various Solar Energy Applications
    Poonam Rani, Rohit Biswas, P. P. Tripathy
    Sustainable Drying Technologiesa of Food, 2026
    Solar energy is a clean, cost-effective, and environment-friendly renewable source which is easily and abundantly available. It is becoming more popular as a substitute to fossil fuels for a variety of energy-intensive thermal operations, including heating, water desalination, drying, and power generation. Furthermore, solar energy is also being utilized for air-conditioning and refrigeration in past few decades. The performance of solar thermal processes is studied with regard to energy and exergy assessment. The idea of energy analysis takes into account the first rule of thermodynamics and offers a qualitative assessment of losses in various system components. Energy analysis, however, cannot adequately describe the heat quality and irreversibility encountered during energy transformation events. The exergy investigation provides a better assessment of the effective usage of solar energy and is based on the second law of thermodynamics. It is a powerful thermodynamic tool to provide a quantitative and qualitative energy use by identifying the origins, locations, and sizes of losses that have developed as a result of various irreversibility and entropy formation in various processes. Therefore, this chapter deals with the exergy analysis of different solar thermal systems, including different designs of solar collectors, photovoltaic systems, solar dryers, solar cooker, solar refrigeration, etc. The detailed review of exergetic evaluation of solar collectors have also been presented by accounting different case studies. Further, energy efficiencies, exergy efficiencies, exergy losses, and exergy destruction have been discussed by assessing the energy and exergy balance of different solar thermal applications. The exergetic investigation can be effectively employed to optimize the solar thermal processes by detecting the losses and inefficiencies. Moreover, it can also evaluate the sustainability and profitability of an industrial process effectively.
  • Indirect mode solar drying of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves: experimental and numerical investigation of fluid flow pattern, moisture, and temperature distribution profile
    Prakash Kumar, Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2025
  • Drying characteristics and performance acceleration of a mixed-mode solar dryer using finned collector for pineapple slice drying
    Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2025
  • Sustainable Renewable Energy Sources for Food and Dairy Processing
    Poonam Rani, Arpan Dubey, Prakash Kumar, Amit Kumar
    Food Process Engineering and Technology Safety Packaging Nanotechnologies and Human Health, 2024
  • CFD coupled heat and mass transfer simulation of pineapple drying process using mixed-mode solar dryers integrated with flat plate and finned collector
    Poonam Rani, P.P. Tripathy
    Renewable Energy, 2023
    The present research deals with the analysis of 3-dimensional computational models to analyze the airflow, temperature profile of dryer coupled with heat transfer of pineapple slices during solar drying. A finite element approach performed the simulations of mixed-mode solar dryers integrated with flat plate and finned collectors consisting of baffles and semicircular loops under forced convection using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The mass transfer of pineapple slices was also simulated to compare the moisture distribution inside the samples dried in both solar dryers. The dryer integrated with flat plate collector (FPSC) presented 2.5 h longer drying period than the finned collector assisted dryer to attain the 10% (wb) moisture of pineapples slices. The airflow pattern indicated inadequate air distribution inside the FPSC and generated two vortices contributing to dead zones and localized heating inside the drying chamber. The finned collector provided a more effective air distribution in the dryer. The sample's temperature was greatly affected by their position because of non-homogenous temperature distribution in FPSC-Dryer and finned collector integrated dryer presented more uniform temperature profile. The results are beneficial for the analysis of uniformity of airflow and temperature in the dryer, which is a deciding factor for homogeneity of drying.
  • The influence of non-thermal technologies on color pigments of food materials: An updated review
    R. Pandiselvam, Swati Mitharwal, Poonam Rani, M. Anjaly Shanker, Amit Kumar, Raouf Aslam, Yeliz Tekgül Barut, Anjineyulu Kothakota, Sarvesh Rustagi, Dolly Bhati, Shahida Anusha Siddiqui, Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui, Seema Ramniwas, Aynura Aliyeva, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
    Current Research in Food Science, 2023
    The color of any food is influenced by several factors, such as food attributes (presence of pigments, maturity, and variety), processing methods, packaging, and storage conditions. Thus, measuring the color profile of food can be used to control the quality of food and examine the changes in chemical composition. With the advent of non-thermal processing techniques and their growing significance in the industry, there is a demand to understand the effects of these technologies on various quality attributes, including color. This paper reviews the effects of novel, non-thermal processing technologies on the color attributes of processed food and the implications on consumer acceptability. The recent developments in this context and a discussion on color systems and various color measurement techniques are also included. The novel non-thermal techniques, including high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, ultrasonication, and irradiation which employ low processing temperatures for a short period, have been found effective. Since food products are processed at ambient temperature by subjecting them to non-thermal treatment for a very short time, there is no possibility of damage to heat-sensitive nutrient components in the food, any deterioration in the texture of the food, and any toxic compounds in the food due to heat. These techniques not only yield higher nutritional quality but are also observed to maintain better color attributes. However, suppose foods are exposed to prolonged exposure or processed at a higher intensity. In that case, these non-thermal technologies can cause undesirable changes in food, such as oxidation of lipids and loss of color and flavor. Developing equipment for batch food processing using non-thermal technology, understanding the appropriate mechanisms, developing processing standards using non-thermal processes, and clarifying consumer myths and misconceptions about these technologies will help promote non-thermal technologies in the food industry.
  • Experimental investigation on heat transfer performance of solar collector with baffles and semicircular loops fins under varied air mass flow rates
    Poonam Rani, P.P. Tripathy
    International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 2022
  • Investigating shrinkage corrected drying characteristics, rehydration, color profile and microstructural evolution during solar drying of pineapple slices
    Poonam Rani, Punyadarshini Punam Tripathy
    Journal of Food Process Engineering, 2022
    The study describes the solar drying characteristics of pineapple slices with incorporation of shrinkage and influence of drying and rehydration on structural alterations, color profile and microstructure. Samples were dried in mixed mode solar dryer at an air velocity of 0.5 m/s, with recorded average solar radiation, ambient and drying chamber temperature of 665 W/m2, 33°C and 65°C, respectively, from initial moisture content of 89.9% to a final moisture content of 23% in 6.5 h. Samples showed 43.7% higher drying rate and 82.25% lesser moisture diffusivity on consideration of shrinkage. Moisture diffusivity was increased with a reduction in moisture content during drying on ignoring the shrinkage, while it was initially increased and then gradually reduced at later hours when shrinkage effect was considered. The slices showed overall shrinkage of 86.95% during drying but could recover only 35–45.57% of its volume during rehydration. The water absorption and volume recovery were consistently higher at rehydration temperature of 60°C followed by 45°C and 30°C. Solar dried and rehydrated samples demonstrated overall color change of 16.80 ± 1.15 and 5.87 ± 2.5–7.56 ± 1.43, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of solar dried samples presented collapsed cellular matrix but rehydrated samples showed porous microstructure indicating regaining of honeycomb network.Practical ApplicationsSolar drying is an essential sustainable approach to reduce the tremendous post‐harvest losses of fruits and it also offers the advantages of energy cost saving, higher affordability level and greater payback power to farmers. Present study explored the drying characteristics, followed by rehydration characteristics and effect of drying and rehydration on quality attributes of pineapple slices. Therefore, results are helpful for food processors and engineers in optimization of drying and rehydration processes to obtain best quality products, shelf‐life extension of perishable fruits. Solar dried pineapple slices will give better returns to farmers. Moreover, dried pineapple can be utilized as dried chips/snacks, powder, etc. and also can be further rehydrated to reconstitute for utilization in different value added food products like ice‐cream, cakes, flakes, granules etc.
  • Osmo-air drying of banana slices: multivariate analysis, process optimization and product quality characterization
    Robina Rai, Poonam Rani, Punyadarshini Punam Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2022
  • Heat transfer augmentation of flat plate solar collector through finite element-based parametric study
    Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2022
  • Development and Characterization of Betel Nut Fiber Composite as a Food Packaging Material
    Swastika Das, Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Journal of Natural Fibers, 2022
  • Drying characteristics, energetic and exergetic investigation during mixed-mode solar drying of pineapple slices at varied air mass flow rates
    Poonam Rani, P.P. Tripathy
    Renewable Energy, 2021
  • Extrusion of fermented rice-black gram flour for development of functional snacks: Characterization, optimization and sensory analysis
    Poonam Rani, Amit Kumar, Soumya Ranjan Purohit, Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao
    Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2021
  • Thermal characteristics of a flat plate solar collector: Influence of air mass flow rate and correlation analysis among process parameters
    Poonam Rani, P.P. Tripathy
    Solar Energy, 2020
  • Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour: Study on protein modification and changes in quality attributes
    Amit Kumar, Poonam Rani, Soumya Ranjan Purohit, Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao
    Journal of Cereal Science, 2020
  • Modelling of moisture migration during convective drying of pineapple slice considering non-isotropic shrinkage and variable transport properties
    Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2020
  • Data-driven modelling and prediction of COVID-19 infection in India and correlation analysis of the virus transmission with socio-economic factors
    Amit Kumar, Poonam Rani, Rahul Kumar, Vasudha Sharma, Soumya Ranjan Purohit
    Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Clinical Research and Reviews, 2020
  • Development of multigrain extruded flakes and their sensory analysis using fuzzy logic
    Poonam Rani, Amit Kumar, Soumya Ranjan Purohit, Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao
    Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 2020
  • Effect of ultrasound and chemical pretreatment on drying characteristics and quality attributes of hot air dried pineapple slices
    Poonam Rani, P. P. Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2019
  • Impact of fermentation and extrusion processing on physicochemical, sensory and bioactive properties of rice-black gram mixed flour
    Poonam Rani, Amit Kumar, Soumya Ranjan Purohit, Pavuluri Srinivasa Rao
    Lwt, 2018

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Electrostatic Spray Drying of Whey Protein-Carbohydrate Systems: Influence of pH, Water Activity, and Storage Temperature on Maillard Reactions
    D Chutani, P Rani, T Huppertz, E Murphy
    International Dairy Journal, 106662 , 2026
    2026
  • Energy and Exergy Analyses in Various Solar Energy Applications
    P Rani, R Biswas, PP Tripathy
    Sustainable drying technologies‎ of food 1, 28 , 2026
    2026
  • Process Parameter Influence on Multi-Stage Spray Dryer Energy Efficiency: A Modelling Approach
    P Rani, E Murphy
    IDF Joint Symposium on Dried Dairy and Recombined Milk Products , 2025
    2025
  • Indirect mode solar drying of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves: experimental and numerical investigation of fluid flow pattern, moisture, and temperature distribution profile
    P Kumar, P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 10
  • Sustainable Renewable Energy Sources for Food and Dairy Processing
    P Rani, A Dubey, P Kumar, A Kumar
    Food Process Engineering and Technology: Safety, Packaging, Nanotechnologies … , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Drying characteristics and performance acceleration of a mixed-mode solar dryer using finned collector for pineapple slice drying
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 12
  • Increased understanding of spray dryer capabilities through increased data capture and visualisation
    P Rani, J Tobin, N O'Shea, E Murphy
    SDT 80th Anniversary Conference: Digitalisation of Processing in the Dairy … , 2023
    2023
  • CFD coupled heat and mass transfer simulation of pineapple drying process using mixed-mode solar dryers integrated with flat plate and finned collector
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Renewable energy 217, 119210 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 50
  • Applications of Biosensors in Food Industries: A Comprehensive Overview
    A Kumar, P Rani
    https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/881189cc-82d9-4fd9-ba00-1d464633fe6b/Volume … , 2023
    2023
  • Improvement of drying characteristics of pineapple slice and thermal performance of a mixed mode solar dryer using finned collector
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    11th Asia-Pacific Drying Conference (ADC), Kolkata, India , 2023
    2023
  • The influence of non-thermal technologies on color pigments of food materials: An updated review
    R Pandiselvam, S Mitharwal, P Rani, MA Shanker, A Kumar, R Aslam, ...
    Current Research in Food Science 6, 100529 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 129
  • Experimental investigation on heat transfer performance of solar collector with baffles and semicircular loops fins under varied air mass flow rates
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    International Journal of Thermal Sciences , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 59
  • Investigating shrinkage corrected drying characteristics, rehydration, color profile and microstructural evolution during solar drying of pineapple slices
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Process Engineering , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 14
  • Simulation of air flow pattern, transient temperature profile and moisture migration during mixed mode solar drying of pineapple slices
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    55th Annual Convention of Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, Patna, India , 2021
    2021
  • Osmo-air drying of banana slices: multivariate analysis, process optimization and product quality characterization
    R Rai, P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 18
  • Drying characteristics, energetic and exergetic investigation during mixed-mode solar drying of pineapple slices at varied air mass flow rates
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Renewable Energy , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 102
  • Heat transfer augmentation of flat plate solar collector through finite element-based parametric study
    Rani, Poonam, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 18
  • Thermal characteristics of a flat plate solar collector: Influence of air mass flow rate and correlation analysis among process parameters
    Rani, Poonam, PP Tripathy
    Solar Energy 211, 464-477 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 62
  • Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour: Study on protein modification and changes in quality attributes
    A Kumar, P Rani, SR Purohit, PS Rao
    Journal of Cereal Science , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 66
  • Modelling of mass transfer during solar drying of pineapple samples with non-isotropic shrinkage
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    SHIFT-2020, Virtual Conference , 2020
    2020

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • The influence of non-thermal technologies on color pigments of food materials: An updated review
    R Pandiselvam, S Mitharwal, P Rani, MA Shanker, A Kumar, R Aslam, ...
    Current Research in Food Science 6, 100529 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 129
  • Drying characteristics, energetic and exergetic investigation during mixed-mode solar drying of pineapple slices at varied air mass flow rates
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Renewable Energy , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 102
  • Effect of ultrasound and chemical pretreatment on drying characteristics and quality attributes of hot air dried pineapple slices
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 89
  • Impact of fermentation and extrusion processing on physicochemical, sensory and bioactive properties of rice-black gram mixed flour
    P Rani, A Kumar, SR Purohit, PS Rao
    LWT-Food Science and Technology 89, 155-163 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 77
  • Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour: Study on protein modification and changes in quality attributes
    A Kumar, P Rani, SR Purohit, PS Rao
    Journal of Cereal Science , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 66
  • Thermal characteristics of a flat plate solar collector: Influence of air mass flow rate and correlation analysis among process parameters
    Rani, Poonam, PP Tripathy
    Solar Energy 211, 464-477 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 62
  • Experimental investigation on heat transfer performance of solar collector with baffles and semicircular loops fins under varied air mass flow rates
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    International Journal of Thermal Sciences , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 59
  • CFD coupled heat and mass transfer simulation of pineapple drying process using mixed-mode solar dryers integrated with flat plate and finned collector
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Renewable energy 217, 119210 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 50
  • Modelling of moisture migration during convective drying of pineapple slice considering non-isotropic shrinkage and variable transport properties
    Rani, Poonam, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 50
  • Data-driven modelling and prediction of COVID-19 infection in India and correlation analysis of the virus transmission with socio-economic factors
    A Kumar, P Rani, R Kumar, V Sharma, SR Purohit
    Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 33
  • Extrusion of fermented rice-black gram flour for development of functional snacks: Characterization, optimization and sensory analysis
    P Rani, A Kumar, SR Purohit, PS Rao
    Journal of Food Science and Technology , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 20
  • Osmo-air drying of banana slices: multivariate analysis, process optimization and product quality characterization
    R Rai, P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Science and Technology , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 18
  • Heat transfer augmentation of flat plate solar collector through finite element-based parametric study
    Rani, Poonam, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 18
  • Development of multigrain extruded flakes and their sensory analysis using fuzzy logic
    P Rani, A Kumar, SR Purohit, PS Rao
    Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 14 (1), 411-424 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 18
  • Development and Characterization of Betel Nut Fiber Composite as a Food Packaging Material
    S Das, P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Natural Fibers , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 15
  • Investigating shrinkage corrected drying characteristics, rehydration, color profile and microstructural evolution during solar drying of pineapple slices
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Journal of Food Process Engineering , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 14
  • Drying characteristics and performance acceleration of a mixed-mode solar dryer using finned collector for pineapple slice drying
    P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 12
  • Indirect mode solar drying of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves: experimental and numerical investigation of fluid flow pattern, moisture, and temperature distribution profile
    P Kumar, P Rani, PP Tripathy
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 10
  • Sustainable Renewable Energy Sources for Food and Dairy Processing
    P Rani, A Dubey, P Kumar, A Kumar
    Food Process Engineering and Technology: Safety, Packaging, Nanotechnologies … , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Electrostatic Spray Drying of Whey Protein-Carbohydrate Systems: Influence of pH, Water Activity, and Storage Temperature on Maillard Reactions
    D Chutani, P Rani, T Huppertz, E Murphy
    International Dairy Journal, 106662 , 2026
    2026