Your Guide To OHAUS Moisture Analysis
Learn the basics of moisture analysis
Learn the basics of moisture analysis
Water is essential to life; it plays a critical role in the physical and chemical functions of our bodies, the food we eat, and the materials that surround us. Moisture content can be thought of as the amount of water in a material or substance. Moisture content analysis is a critical component of material quality and essentially a function of quality control in most production and laboratory facilities. Excessive or deficient moisture content of a substance can adversely impact the physical properties of a material. Weight, thermal expansion, amalgamation, electrical conductivity, and microbial activity are some examples of the properties that can be altered by even a minute presence, or, conversely, an abundance of moisture. In many industries it is important—if not critical—to measure the water content of substances in order to assess quality, adjust manufacturing processes, and ensure that products meet regulations and guidelines.
Water content is important for the processing and handling of:
Cosmetics
Pharmaceuticals
Food
Personal care products
Pulp and paper products
Specialty chemicals
Wastewater applications
Etc.
How does a moisture analyzer work?
Moisture content influences the weight, density, viscosity, refractive index, and electrical conductivity of a material. Methods for testing moisture content tend to exploit one or more of these physical or chemical properties. Direct measurements (such as Karl Fischer titration) address the presence of water itself, either through its removal or through chemical interaction. The use of a thermogravimetric, or loss on drying (LOD) technique, measures the weight of a sample before and after a drying procedure and uses the weight delta to determine the percentage of moisture as the weight removed by the drying process in comparison to the initial weight of the sample.
Typically, this process is done in a drying oven with a balance to determine the initial and final weight of the sample, and uses a simple mathematical calculation to determine the moisture content ([initial weight – end weight]/initial weight). This process ordinarily takes several hours to complete and is vulnerable to user error. A moisture analyzer works on the same principle, but is an automated system that employs a microprocessor-controlled heating element and an analyzer all in one device; by using such a device, the moisture content of a sample can be measured in minutes rather than hours.
The MB Series of moisture analyzers from OHAUS measure moisture via the loss on drying technique. These moisture analyzers define moisture as the loss of mass observed when the sample is heated and is based, in theory, on the vaporization of water during the drying process; this measurement does not distinguish weight loss of water from loss of volatile components or sample decomposition. OHAUS moisture analyzers employ a heating element (e.g. a halogen bulb) that dries a sample by transferring energy using both radiation (the transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through a medium—in this case, the sample) and conductive heat transfer, and a precision balance that monitors the weight loss during the drying process. The loss on drying technique is universally recognized as an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective method for determining moisture content.
OHAUS offers a variety of moisture analyzers to meet the needs of various applications.
Getting started
Getting started with moisture measurements can be a daunting task. Unlike a balance where there is a definitive 'correct' value, a moisture analyzer relies on the user to set up the device correctly to achieve a particular result. There is no one-size-fits-all method for moisture analysis as the samples that can be and are used vary greatly and have a great deal of variance in both chemical and physical properties. It is up to you as the user to understand the particular substance you wish to test and develop a method that best fits your sample.
In general there are 2 ways to use a moisture analyzer. First, if you already have a reference value (likely from a drying oven or other moisture determination process) you can orient your method development to target this value. As a starting point, we always recommend using the default values [automatic shut off value of 1mg / 60 seconds (A60), and the standard drying profile] and manipulating the temperature to find your optimal setting. If your moisture content result is too low, try raising the temperature; if it is too high, lower the temperature. Always inspect your sample once drying is complete to ensure that it has not burned or decomposed; if it has, lower your drying temperature. If your sample is more complex, consult the OHAUS moisture guide for explanations of the various drying programs
If no reference value exists, then you may attempt to find a method that consistently dries your sample in the shortest amount of time (without burning or decomposing it). In this case we again recommend using the default values (A60 shut off, and standard drying profile) and manipulating the temperature to find your optimal setting. We recommend stating with a relatively low temperature (say 120°C) and raising (in small increments, say 5-10°C) as necessary to ensure your sample is thoroughly and efficiently dried but does not show signs of burning or decomposing. As a generic starting point the OHAUS moisture guide contains a set of sample methods for various samples.
The OHAUS MB120 moisture analyzer is equipped with a feature called a temperature guide which helps determine the optimum drying temperature for a particular sample.
Tips for best practices
Make sure your sample preparation is consistent and that the maximum surface area of the sample is exposed. If grinding or mashing is required, ensure that this is done using a consistent method that does not expose the sample to heat. Make sure the sample is evenly distributed and is not clumped in a way that would prevent energy from penetrating the sample and drying thoroughly.
Allow adequate cooling between measurements. If the machine is still very hot from the previous run, it may affect the initial weight reading of the sample and cause inaccuracy in final percentage moisture content (%MC).
Keep the starting weight for test material consistent. Since the final reading (weight) is a factor of the drying process, consistent starting weight will minimize differences due to physical parameters of sample introduction and drying profile.
When possible, try to control the laboratory environment. For extremely sensitive samples or for cases where sensitivity in reading is critical, consider working in an environmental chamber where temperature and humidity are tightly controlled. In general, it is best to set up the instrument in an area free of windows to minimize exposure to temperature extremes, drafts, and other environmental conditions.
Moisture analysers are a great substitute to traditional oven drying methods and are a user-friendly alternative to wet chemistry analysers. OHAUS moisture analysers utilise a halogen or infrared heating element to rapidly dry the sample resulting in a quick and accurate result. These rapid tests can be performed on the production floor or the lab. Browse our range of models for more detailed product information and features
Need assistance or advice? Contact the team at Ansutek via email or phone 0800 27 26 26
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