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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #175343
Title: NONDESTRUCTIVE MOISTURE CONTENT DETERMINATION IN SINGLE KERNELS OF CORN, POPCORN AND PEANUTS BY DUAL FREQUENCY RF IMPEDANCE METHOD

Author
item Kandala, Chari
item Butts, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2004
Publication Date: 12/4/2004
Citation: Kandala, C., Butts, C.L. 2004. Nondestructive moisture content determination in single kernels of corn, popcorn and peanuts by dual frequency rf impedance method. American Peanut Research and Education Society Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: not required.

Technical Abstract: A method developed earlier to estimate the moisture content in single kernels of field corn from radio-frequency (RF) measurements was found to be applicable to single kernels of popcorn and peanuts also. Capacitance, phase angle and dissipation factor were measured with an impedance analyzer at 1 and 5 MHz on a parallel-plate capacitor holding the kernel between the plates. These values were used in a semi- empirical equation and the moisture contents were predicted successfully within 1% of their air-oven values for over 90% of the samples tested in each case. The moisture contents of the corn samples tested were in the range from 9 to 26%, the popcorn samples from 11 to 25% and the peanut kernels from 5 to 15%. The method is rapid and nondestructive.