Moisture Analysis

---

Moisture content analysis is a critical component of material quality and essentially a function of quality control in most production and laboratory facilities. From biological/ fungi research organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, to food producers and packers, moisture content control greatly influences the physical properties and product quality of nearly all substances and materials at all stages of processing and final product existence. 

The principle of the thermogravimetric method of moisture content determination is defined as the weight loss of mass that occurs as the material is heated. The sample weight is taken prior to heating and again after reaching a steady-state mass subsequent to drying. Various thermogravimetric methods and technologies can be used for sample drying; for example, the halogen technological thermo-radiation drying method is a universally applicable, highly efficient and practical test procedure for in-process testing. The thermogravimetric drying process has many advantages, notably this type of testing is simple and generally does not require high capital investment.

In combining state-of-the-art thermogravimetric drying and halogen heating with highly accurate weighing technology, for example, the UCLA analyzer delivers a fast, precise method of completing a wide variety of moisture analysis procedures. The UCLA is suitable for sampling applications in the food processing, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, providing loss on drying results for volatile content in powders, pastesand/or liquids.

The measure of moisture content during thermogravimetric analysis defines moisture as the loss of mass of a substance when heated, by the process of water vaporization. The substance difference is continually calculated and recorded by a precision balance. Sample substance mass is measured before and after the drying process for final moisture determination on percentage basis.

Thermogravimetric analysis is a complete, accurate and responsive method of moisture determination. Several drying methods are classified as thermogravimetric. To be effective, moisture determination methods must be fast, repeatable, and precise. Two fundamental thermogravimetric moisture content measuring technologies are halogen and infra red drying. Other traditional methods include oven drying and microwave drying processes.