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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222581
Title: Moisture in cotton by oven drying

Author
item Montalvo Jr, Joseph
item von Hoven, Terri

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2008
Publication Date: 6/15/2008
Citation: Montalvo Jr, J.G., Von Hoven, T.M. 2008. Moisture in cotton by oven drying. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. CD-Rom. p. 1511-1517.

Interpretive Summary: Moisture in cotton is important because the fiber properties are dependent on the moisture content. The standard test methods for moisture in lint cotton are almost all based on oven drying. All of the loss in weight is attributable to moisture. The U.S. cotton industry questions the reliability of the oven drying test and has requested that this laboratory develop improved standard test methods. As a first step, the approach taken in this paper is to review the importance of moisture to the industry, the standard test methods by oven drying, present new quality control measures to ensure the laboratory techniques are in control, and compare oven drying results with preliminary results using the Karl Fischer technique. The practical implication of the review of the oven drying method is that it confirms the need by the industry for improved standard test methods for moisture in cotton. Advances in the quality control measures will lead to more accurate methods for moisture in cotton. As expected, oven drying and Karl Fischer results showed differences in moisture contents.

Technical Abstract: Cotton fiber properties are strongly dependent on the moisture content in the fiber matrix. The standard test methods for moisture in lint cotton are almost all based on oven drying. All of the loss in weight by oven drying, due to moisture and other volatiles, is attributable to moisture. The U.S. cotton industry questions the reliability of the oven drying test and has requested that this laboratory develop improved standard test methods. The approach taken in this paper is to review the importance of moisture to the industry, the standard test methods by oven drying, present new quality control measures to ensure the laboratory techniques are in control, and compare oven drying results with preliminary results using the Karl Fischer technique. The practical implications of the review of the oven drying method is that it confirms the need by the industry for improved standard test methods for moisture in cotton. There is a lack of information regarding the accuracy of the oven drying techniques. Two new quality control measures are presented to help assure that the weight data is independent of drift or bias in the analytical balance and environmental changes. As expected, oven drying and Karl Fischer results showed differences in moisture contents.