Development of a novel walnut sampling system and rapid moisture measurement methodology for a commercial walnut hulling facility

Authors: Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar; FUNK, PAUL - Retired ARS Employee; Haff, Ronald; BRESKA, ANDREW - Retired ARS Employee; McIntyre, Joseph; YEATER, KATHLEEN - Retired ARS Employee; Whitelock, Derek; ARMIJO, CARLOS - Retired ARS Employee; Zhang, Yuzhu; Yokoyama, Wallace

Submitted to: AgriEngineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2026
Publication Date: 3/30/2026
Citation: Tumuluru, J., Funk, P.A., Haff, R.P., Breska, A., Mcintyre, J.S., Yeater, K.M., Whitelock, D.P., Armijo, C.B., Zhang, Y., Yokoyama, W.H. 2026. Development of a novel walnut sampling system and rapid moisture measurement methodology for a commercial walnut hulling facility. AgriEngineering. 8(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8040121.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8040121

Interpretive Summary: In this research, a novel high-throughput sampling methodology for commercial walnut bins was developed. A walnut processing facility in California was used as a test site. For each walnut bin, a column with four gate valves at four levels was designed to admit approximately 30 nuts through each opening into buckets, which were then removed with a cable. The samples were further ground and tested for moisture using the rapid moisture measurement developed in the project, which reduced the measurement time from 24 hrs. to 3 hrs. The rapid walnut drying method measured the moisture with about± 0.5-0.7% variability compared to the standard oven dry method. Walnut drying data indicated that samples near the bin surface had higher moisture content than those near the bin floor. Walnut moisture data indicated that during the initial and middle phases, moisture evaporation and condensation phenomena were observed, whereas at the end of the process, moisture loss was more uniform. The near-infrared (NIR) method was also tested for rapid moisture measurement of the walnuts. The sampling methodology and the rapid moisture measurement methods developed for the commercial walnut huller have successfully enabled us to sample walnut at various locations and multiple depths and measure moisture rapidly, which will improve research capabilities and speed, allowing solutions to industry problem to be developed more quickly.

Technical Abstract: Research is needed to improve walnut drying throughput and energy consumption in hulling plants, but current methods for sampling nuts in commercial drying bins and measuring nut moisture content limit the capacity to investigate the drying process thoroughly. A novel apparatus for obtaining walnut samples at multiple depths and locations in stadium drying bins and a novel rapid method for accurately determining walnut in-shell moisture content were developed. A second rapid moisture measurement method involving near-infrared light (NIR) was also investigated. The sampling apparatus consisted of three sampling columns installed in each walnut drying bin. Each column had gate valves at four elevations, admitting approximately 30 in-shell walnuts to rectangular buckets hanging on a cable just below each gate valve. To collect samples, the gates were opened and closed, the buckets were withdrawn, the nut samples were collected and sealed in labeled bags, and then the buckets were returned to the column to be ready for the next sampling interval. This configuration, sampling nuts at four levels across three locations in the drying bin, allowed better moisture content variability investigation during in-bin walnut drying. The rapid moisture content measurement method consisted of selecting twelve representative in-shell walnuts from each sample and grinding them in a mill. Twelve grams were sub-sampled from the well-mixed ground material and dried in an oven at 105 ± 1 °C for 3 h, then reweighed to determine moisture loss. The coefficient of variation for sub-samples within an individual sample (n = 4) averaged 2.65% for moisture contents ranging from 6% to 47% dry basis. The rapid moisture content measurement method reduced the drying time from 24 h to 3 h compared to conventional oven drying method, with an accuracy of ±0.5 to 1.5% of the full moisture content range. The best correlation observed between the NIR methodology and the rapid moisture content method was 0.74 R2. These new in-bin walnut sampling and moisture-content measurement methods will accelerate future research aimed at improving walnut drying at commercial huller facilities.