Laboratory Microwave Measurement of the Moisture Content in Seed Cotton and Ginned Cotton Fiber

摘要

The timely and accurate measurement of cotton fiber moisture content is important, but the measurement is often performed by laborious, time-consuming laboratory oven drying methods. Microwave technology for measuring fiber moisture content directly (not for drying only) offers potential advantages, but until recently most of the applications have focused on on-line measurements (e.g., cotton bales). Small microwave instruments have been introduced for laboratory measurements of fiber moisture content. Methods were first developed for the moisture content of lint (ginned fiber) and then expanded to seed cotton (before ginning). Microwave results for lint and seed cotton were in good agreement with oven drying method results. The microwave analyses were fast, accurate, easy to perform, and required minimal sample preparation.