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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137858
Title: COMPARISON OF RF IMPEDANCE AND DC CONDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS FOR SINGLE PEANUT KERNEL MOISTURE DETERMINATION

Author
item Kandala, Chari
item Butts, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2002
Publication Date: 11/2/2002
Citation: KANDALA, C., BUTTS, C.L. COMPARISON OF RF IMPEDANCE AND DC CONDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS FOR SINGLE PEANUT KERNEL MOISTURE DETERMINATION. AMERICAN PEANUT RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SOCIETY ABSTRACTS. 2002. Abstract v.34. p. 110.

Interpretive Summary: not required.

Technical Abstract: Two methods for measuring the moisture content (wet basis) of individual kernels of peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., were compared with a standard oven method. One method was based on the capacitance, dissipation factor, and phase angle measurements of a parallel-plate capacitor with a single peanut held between the plates at two frequencies, 1.0 and 4.5 MHz. This method has been tested and published using measurements on jumbo- and medium-sized Florunner (cv) kernels harvested during the 1989 CY. The other method was a dc conductance measurement on a single peanut as it passed between two crushing-roller electrodes. This method is used in a commercial single kernel moisture meter for peanut. The capacitance measurement is a non-destructive test compared to the commercially available conductance meter. Peanuts, Georgia Green (cv.) grown during the 2001 CY were shelled and sized. Five samples, 3 of jumbo-sized kernels and two of medium-sized kernels were used for these studies. Each sample consisted of 30 kernels and were rehydrated after cold storage to moisture contents ranging from 5 to 15%, wet basis. Single kernel moisture contents determined using the capacitance and conductance methods agreed closely with the standard oven values. Measurement accuracy was not affected by kernel size.