You might have seen moisture analysers on websites that sell scales and balances. What is a moisture analyser? What does it do? And how does it relate to balances and scales? How do you calibrate a moisture analyser? We answer these questions and more in this post about moisture analysers. There are different types of moisture analyser on the market today, and we'll focus on our own PMB, as we can ensure the information is accurate and specific.
What is a moisture analyser?
Moisture analysers are sometimes called "moisture balances". They're instruments that determine the moisture content of various types of samples. The drying procedures are highly customisable, since different things react to different types of drying procedures, well, differently. Moisture analysers are often connected to computers to observe and analyse the drying process and its effects on the sample. You can save the tests in the instrument's memory to repeat frequent testing parameters without having to set them up over and over again, which saves a lot of time.
How do moisture analysers work?
Basically, the moisture analyser weighs a sample, heats it up to dry it, and weighs it again once it's dry. This is called loss on Drying (LOD), a standard method for measuring moisture. The sample is weighed, heated, dried and weighed again. The weight after drying is subtracted from the weight before, so the loss of moisture is determined using the loss of mass.
Different moisture analysers have various means of generating heat. Our PMB uses a single 400 watt halogen bulb, which heats the sample in 1 °C selectable increments. Halogens are quick, efficient and responsive, which makes them ideal for moisture analysis, where there is no single setting that heats all samples evenly; some samples can be dried using constant heating while others have to be heated in specific increments to avoid damage.
The process basically goes like this: start up the moisture analyser, pick or set testing parameters, put a sample in a tared dish (or sample pan) and close the lid to start the drying process. The analysis happens while the sample is drying. It either ends when the test is over, or after a period of time set by the user. The data is often sent to computers or stored in a flash drive for in-depth analysis and observation. The reports are ISO and GLP compliant.
What are moisture analysers used for?
Moisture analysers are used in a variety of industries for many different purposes. These are some of the most common applications:
Food industry: moisture control is paramount in the food industry. Too much moisture can lead to staleness or bacterial growth. Many items are sold by weight, so it's important to make sure customers aren't overpaying for water weight. Too little moisture can reduce the calorie count or make the food dry. Moisture affects taste, consistency, shelf life, appearance and more.
Laboratory: moisture analysers are frequently used in quality control labs and other laboratories. Moisture analysis is used in many fields, to determine the water content in crude oil, fuel, sewage sludge and many other chemicals, solids and liquids.
Drying modes and what they do:
Ramp-up: The temperature will rise to a specific degree over a set period of time. For example, 125ºC in 10 minutes.
Single: A single temperature. The moisture analyser will heat to a specific temperature, and stays there for the duration of the test, no matter how long it is.
Step: Heats to one temperature for a set time then to another temperature for another period of time. There are a maximum of 3 settings in the PMB. So you could set it to 100ºC for 3 minutes, 125ºC for 2 minutes and to 150 ºC for 6 minutes.
Why should I use a moisture analyser instead of oven drying?
Moisture analysers are usually quicker than ovens, and they do the analysis, calculations and weighing in the same instrument so the process has less steps, which decreases the chances of errors. There is no gap in the data from the beginning of the weighing until the weighing of the dried sample. Moisture analysers are also more portable, which is ideal if you have various labs or buildings that you need to transport the instrument to. They are also connected to computers and well adapted to data communication and analysis. A moisture analyser can have multiple test methods, and you can save them for later usage. They can be connected to printers for added convenience.
How to calibrate a moisture analyser
A moisture analyser needs two calibrations: weight and temperature. Calibrating for mass is similar to calibrating a balance. You use calibration masses with a known value and ensure that the value matches on the display. The procedure for calibrating the temperature works differently:
- Make sure the moisture analyser has been on for about an hour, and let it cool for 3 hours if you were using it.
- Put a sample pan in the PMB.
- Place the temperature probe to be used to monitor the temperature on the sample pan. Close the chamber. Enter the menu for calibration section.
- Select the Temperature Calibration option CAL TEMP. Press the [Setup/Enter] key. The display will guide you through the steps necessary to calibrate the temperature of the heating chamber.
- When the analyzer chamber is closed, the display will show 00:00 with the timer running. The timer will count up to 20:00 to allow time for the chamber to come to a steady (room) temperature. During this time, observe the temperature in the chamber. The beeper will sound every minute to remind you that calibration is in progress.
- Record the temperature inside the chamber. When the temperature has been stable and constant for some time, press [Setup/Enter] to enter the lower temperature value.
- Using the numeric entry method, enter the temperature inside the chamber. Press [Setup/Enter] to continue the test. The heaters will turn on and begin heating the test chamber. The timer will show the elapsed time as it did before.
- The chamber will be heated to approximately 150ºC. After 20 minutes, the beeper will sound.
- Press [Setup/Enter] to enter the second temperature value as displayed. Enter the second value like before, by pressing [Setup/Enter] to confirm and store the value. The PMB will now return to normal weighing.
Calibrating your moisture analyser frequently is paramount, as the moisture content could be wrong or the samples damaged if the differences are too high. Some samples could damage the moisture analyser when they burn or cause problems in the laboratory.
Important: Make sure you read the manual to know what the heating and drying settings are, and what substances you shouldn't put in your PMB. Know your materials. Some temperatures or drying methods can cause materials to burn, create smoke or fumes, or even explode. Always check the materials before testing.
We carry temperature calibration kits that can help you quickly ensure your analyser is producing as accurate a result as possible.