Moisture content determination is crucial for a variety of purposes, including quality control, process optimization, and product development. Official methods for moisture content determination are established to ensure consistency and accuracy in the measurement process.

Oven Drying

• Samples are weighed and placed in an oven at a specific temperature and time.
• The samples are dried until their weight stabilizes.
• The change in weight is used to calculate the moisture content.

Karl Fischer Titration

• A chemical reagent is used to react with the moisture in a sample.
• The amount of reagent consumed is proportional to the moisture content.
• This method is highly accurate and can be used for small sample sizes.

Microwave Drying

• Samples are heated using microwaves, causing the moisture to evaporate.
• The moisture is collected and weighed to determine the moisture content.
• This method is fast and convenient, but may not be suitable for all materials.

Loss on Drying

• Samples are heated in a vacuum oven at a specific temperature.
• The weight loss is attributed to the evaporation of moisture.
• This method is commonly used for volatile materials.

Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy

• NIR light is passed through a sample, and the absorbance is measured.
• The moisture content is then estimated based on a calibration curve.
• This method is non-destructive and can be used for online monitoring.

Selection of Method

The choice of the most appropriate method depends on the specific material, the required accuracy, and the available resources. Factors such as sample size, sample type, and desired turnaround time should be considered.