ASTM E1358-97

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Designation:E1358–97
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Moisture Content of Particulate Wood
Fuels Using a Microwave Oven
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1358; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 5. Apparatus
1.1 This test method provides an alternative method to 5.1 Microwave Oven—Any standard commercial micro-
Method E 871, for the determination of the moisture of wave oven having a power output of at least 600 W can be
particulate wood fuels. Particulate wood fuels are defined in used.
E 1126.
6. Procedure
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
6.1 Obtain a 50 g sample of the wood to be tested using
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- techniques outlined in Method E 871.
6.2 Determine the weight of 3 sheets of standard paper
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. towels placed on top of each other. Record this mass as M
T
(Mass of Towels).
2. Referenced Documents
6.3 Place the 50-g sample of the wood on top of the paper
2.1 ASTM Standards: towelsanddeterminethemassoftheinitialsample.Recordthe
E 871 Method for Moisture Analysis of Particulate Wood mass as M (Mass of Sample and Towels Initial).
STI
Fuels 6.4 Place the sample in the microwave and heat on full
E 1126 Terminology Relating to Biomass Fuels power using the schedule shown in Table 1 for the type of
wood fuel being tested. Remove sample and towels from oven
3. Summary of Test Method
after each heating interval, weigh, and stir. When the mass
3.1 Moisture is determined by establishing the loss in mass change between successive weighings is less than 0.5 g, record
of the sample when heated under rigidly controlled conditions this mass as M (Mass of Sample and Towels Final).
STF
of temperature, time, sample mass, and equipment specifica-
7. Calculation
tions.
7.1 Calculate the mass percent moisture in the sample as
4. Significance and Use
follows:
4.1 This test method provides a rapid determination for
Moisture in Sample, %
moisture in particulate wood fuels in several minutes. The
5 ~~M 2 M ! 2 ~M 2 M !!/~M 2 M !
STI T STF T STI T
standard method, E 871, requires a minimum of 18 h. This
8. Precision and Bias
method is applicable to situations such as the spot-check of the
moisture delivered by truck where a quick indication of the
8.1 The following criteria should be used for judging the
moisture of wood delivered is desirable.
acceptability of the results:
8.1.1 Repeatability—Duplicate
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