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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 #324375
Research Project: Improved Quality Assessments of Cotton from Fiber to Final Products

Location: Cotton Structure and Quality Research

Title: Fiber moisture content measurements of lint and seed cotton by a small microwave instrument

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item ZUMBA, JIMMY - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Delhom, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2016
Publication Date: 5/18/2016
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Zumba, J., Delhom, C.D. 2016. Fiber moisture content measurements of lint and seed cotton by a small microwave instrument. Proceedings of the National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 5-7, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 318-321.

Interpretive Summary: The timely and accurate measurement of cotton fiber moisture content is important, as deviations in moisture fiber content can impact the fiber quality and processing of cotton fiber. The Mesdan Aqualab is a small, modular, microwave-based fiber moisture measurement instrument for samples with moderate sample size. Calibrations and operational protocols for the Aqualab were established for both ginned lint and seed cotton. The Aqualab results were compared to the moisture content results obtained from laboratory oven measurements. Very good agreement between the microwave and oven moisture content measurements were observed for both lint and seed cotton.

Technical Abstract: The timely and accurate measurement of cotton fiber moisture content is important, as deviations in moisture fiber content can impact the fiber quality and processing of cotton fiber. The Mesdan Aqualab is a small, modular, microwave-based fiber moisture measurement instrument for samples with moderate sample size. Calibrations and operational protocols for the Aqualab were established for both ginned lint and seed cotton. The Aqualab results were compared to the moisture content results obtained from laboratory oven measurements. Very good agreement between the microwave and oven moisture content measurements were observed for both lint and seed cotton.