Automatic Microwave Moisture Meter

A method for determining the moisture content of tobacco based upon microwave heating has been conceived and developed. At the conditions and with the sample size selected, the method satisfies the requirements of the tobacco industry for rapid accurate moisture determinations during the processing of tobacco. It has thus been shown to be a viable alternative to moisture analysis by Karl Fischer titration and the conventional oven drying procedure. It has also been shown that the calculated percent weight loss in the microwave instrument coincides with the actual water content with negligible loss of volatiles other than water. This is in sharp contrast to the results obtained in oven drying the tobacco. The concepts employed in the moisture meter are not limited to tobacco as a sample. It may be useful for moisture determinations on a variety of previously difficult or time-consuming to analyse materials such as grain, paper or meat. It is envisioned in the future as a generally acceptable method for the measurement of the moisture content of tobacco