 Moisture Analyzers
Moisture Analysis Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who uses moisture analyzers?
A: Many are customers who are doing a standard moisture method but need quicker results. Others want to determine moisture for the first time. Moisture ranges are typically from 1% to 99% moisture and samples come from all industries including food, paper, textiles, and agriculture.
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Q: What are "moisture analyzers"?
A: Moisture analyzers are sometimes referred to as "moisture balances" or "moisture meters". They implore infrared heating technology to perform a LOD method.
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Q: What is LOD?
A: LOD stands for loss on drying. Most standard methods are LOD methods. As the sample is heated it loses moisture. The lost of moisture translates to a loss of weight of the sample. When all of the moisture is out of the sample the weight of the sample no longer changes. Moisture is calculated by comparing the initial sample weight to the dried or final sample weight. This is sometimes also referred to as a gravimetric loss.
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Q: What is moisture?
A: Moisture includes water, organics, flavorings and other substances that are released by heat when following the standard method for moisture analysis.
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Q: Is moisture the same as water?
A: No. Water is specifically the H2O molecule. Although it is sometimes possible to configure Denver Moisture Analyzers to give percent water results it is best to use a Karl Fischer Titrator which specifically detects water molecules.
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Q: I’ve heard of a solids analyzer. What is the difference?
A: Nothing! Denver IR moisture analyzers can report in % moisture, % solids (100 - % moisture), grams of residue and mg of weight loss.
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Q: How does a moisture analyzer work?
A: The moisture analyzer consists of two important components; a balance and a heater. The sample is placed in the moisture analyzer and the balance captures the initial weight. An infrared energy heater is used to heat the sample. During the test the balance records the weight. When the sample no longer loses weight the instrument shuts off the heat and uses the final weight to calculate moisture.
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Q: How do the results on the moisture analyzer compare to the standard method?
A: The moisture analyzer needs to be configured/programmed so it will give you the same results as the standard method. We have an Application Laboratory where we develop these programs at no-cost and with no-obligation.
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Q: Our facility is required to follow the standard method. Can we still use a moisture analyzer?
A: Many of our customers are required to follow a standard method. On a regular basis they run the sample using both the standard method and their Denver IR. They document that the results are the same.
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Q: What sort of infrared heater does Denver use?
A: Denver uses quartz for our infrared heater. Our product line features two different kind of quartz. The IR-35 uses radiator quartz which looks similar to the heating element in your oven at home. The IR-60 and IR-120 have the latest quartz technology in the coil quartz. Heat is transferred from a coil wire to a proprietary material which distributes the heat through a quartz plate. Both types of quartz heating elements provide consistent heating.
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Q: What sets Denver IR heaters apart from the competition?
A: The competition offers halogen and ceramic heaters. Both are infrared sources. The problem with halogen is that it heats and cools quickly. This means that it has the tendency to overshoot the heating temperature causing the sample to burn or scorch. The heat is also concentrated around the element making the outside area of the sample to heat more than the inner area which gives inconsistent results. The problem with ceramic is that it heats and cools too quickly. This means that analysis time is longer. Additionally, samples with volatiles have a tendency to lose moisture before the initial weight is captured.
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