The study was carried out to 824standardized formulations and optimized process parameters by sun drying techniques. Sun dried mango leather was prepared by varying process variables viz. whey protein (3-7%), sugar (10-20%), citric acid (0.3-0.5%) and thickness of mango pulp (3-6 mm) and its responses like protein content, overall acceptability, ascorbic acid, cutting force and stretchability were analyzed by using Response Surface Methodology. The optimum value of process parameters for sun dried protein enriched mango leather was found as whey protein (4.92%), sugar (12.50%), citric acid (0.45%) and thickness of pulp (6mm) by using RSM and responses of process parameters were found as overall acceptability (7.60) and protein content (9.90%) having desirability of 0.60.

Drying characteristics of water chestnut kernels were evaluated at different air temperatures (50, 60 and 70 °C) in commercially available hot air tray dryer and sun drying. Drying rate of water chestnut kernels 1.1880, 1.6181, 2.6688 and 0.7249 g water/ g dry matter-min were found at drying temperatures of 50, 60, 70 ºC and sun drying (38 ± 5 ºC), respectively at 15 min time interval. The Midilli-Kucuk model fitted better on the basis of higher R 2 value (0.99978) and lower values of X 2 and RSME values as 0.0000162 and 0.004028784 at 60 °C.

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