Measurement and modelling of dielectric properties of different animal feed resources as a function of feed type and moisture content

Author(s):  
Md Safiqur Rahaman Shishir ◽  
Mohan Jacob ◽  
Kenneth Leong ◽  
Long Cheng ◽  
Brendan Cullen ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4586
Author(s):  
Ana Silveira ◽  
João Cardoso ◽  
Maria José Correia ◽  
Graça Martinho

Moisture content is a quality issue raised by recycling plants in the acceptance of paper and cardboard coming from waste streams. The current way to measure this parameter is by the oven drying method, which is a slow and invasive process, costing time and resources for the recyclers to do this type of quality control. An alternative to such a measurement technique is the use of plate-form devices which indirectly measure the moisture content using the dielectric properties of water and paper. This study has tested this method and developed a representative equation for the use of devices with these properties in the Portuguese market. For that, 48 wastepaper and cardboard bales were tested with both the traditional (oven drying) method and a commercial device equipped with dielectric technology. An equation that fits the studied reality (R2 = 0.76) was achieved, and possible problems regarding the use of this device were tested. The results showed that this type of device could be used as a time- and cost-saving, non-destructive and reliable method in the quality control of wastepaper and cardboard bales.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Achilonu ◽  
Karabo Shale ◽  
Georgina Arthur ◽  
Kuben Naidoo ◽  
Michael Mbatha

The growing world population is challenging the animal products supply system, particularly in developing countries, where demand for meat and milk in 2050 is estimated to increase to 109% and 116%, respectively, amidst deteriorating livestock feed sources. Globally, adequate production and availability of animal feed products to subsistence farmers has been declining due to factors such as global warming, growth in population, and low economic growth. This paper seeks to examine the existing scientific literature on the utilization of some unconventional feed resources, to abate the challenge of feed deficit and thus improve animal nutrition. The use of fruit waste and agricultural farm residues affords alternative, nutritive livestock dietary supplements; it has been proven they contain a spectrum of vital bioactive phytochemicals essential for sustainable growth and development of animals. The biochemical composition of the plant wastes and residues include carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and fatty acids, while the common bioactive phytochemicals are polyphenols, alkaloids, carotenoids, and flavonoids, along with tannins, terpenes, and saponins, which play vital roles in reducing disease-causing agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and free radical-associated diseases. The phytochemicals exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-parasitic and antiprotozoal properties. However, it is important to guard against antinutritive and toxicity levels in animal feed products. The paper concludes that agroresidues’/wastes’ nutritive and therapeutic potential could serve as alternative livestock feed resource, while also acting as additional job and income generator for communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1373-1379
Author(s):  
Samir Trabelsi

HighlightsMoisture and water activity were determined nondestructively and in real time from measurement of dielectric properties.Moisture and water activity calibration equations were established in terms of the dielectric properties.Situations in which bulk density was known or unknown were considered.SEC ranged from 0.41% to 0.68% for moisture and from 0.02 to 0.04 for water activity.Abstract. A method for rapid and nondestructive determination of moisture content and water activity of granular and particulate materials was developed. The method relies on measurement of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor at a single microwave frequency. For the purpose of illustration, the method was applied to predicting the moisture content and water activity of almond kernels. A free-space transmission technique was used for accurate measurement of the dielectric properties. Samples of Bute Padre almond kernels with moisture content ranging from 4.8% to 16.5%, wet basis (w.b.), and water activity ranging from 0.50 to 0.93 were loaded into a Styrofoam sample holder and placed between two horn-lens antennas connected to a vector network analyzer. The dielectric properties were calculated from measurement of the attenuation and phase shift at 8 GHz and 25°C. The dielectric properties increased linearly with moisture content, while they showed an exponential increase with water activity. Situations in which the bulk density was known and unknown were considered. Linear and exponential growth regressions provided equations correlating the dielectric properties with moisture content and water activity with coefficients of determination (r2) higher than 0.96. Analytical expressions of moisture content and water activity in terms of the dielectric properties measured at 8 GHz and 25°C are provided. The standard error of calibration (SEC) was calculated for each calibration equation. Results show that moisture content can be predicted with SECs ranging from 0.41% to 0.68% (w.b.) and water activity with SECs ranging from 0.02 to 0.04 for almond kernel samples with water activity ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 and moisture contents ranging from 4.8% to 16.5% (w.b.). Keywords: Bulk density, Dielectric constant, Dielectric loss factor, Free-space measurements, Loss tangent, Microwave frequencies, Moisture content, Water activity.


Frequenz ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumya Sundar Pattanayak ◽  
Soumen Biswas

Abstract The quality of agricultural products can be remotely sensed and enhanced by determining the dielectric properties. This paper studies the dielectric properties of banana leaf and banana peel over the frequency range 1–20 GHz using the open-ended coaxial probe (OCP) method. A new curve fitting model is proposed to characterize the dielectric properties of banana leaf and banana peel. The different moisture content (MC) levels are considered for both banana leaf and banana peel samples and, their dielectric properties are characterized. Further, the banana leaf and banana peel’s measurement data are compared with the data obtained using the proposed model. In addition, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and R-squared (R 2) are calculated to validate the performance of the proposed model. In case of banana leaf at 68.26% MC, the dielectric constant achieves the value of R 2 and RMSE of 0.98 and 0.0648, respectively. Similarly, dielectric loss achieves the value of R 2 and RMSE of 0.88 and 0.0795, respectively. Further, for banana peel at 80.89% MC, the dielectric constant achieves the value of R 2 and RMSE of 0.99 and 0.2989, respectively. Similarly, dielectric loss achieves the value of R 2 and RMSE of 0.96 and 0.6132, respectively.


2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.O Nelson

The use of dielectric properties of agricultural products for sensing moisture in grain and seed and their application in radio-frequency and microwave dielectric heating is discussed briefly. Values for the dielectric properties of a number of products, including grain and seed, fruits and vegetables, and poultry products, are presented graphically to show the dependence of these properties on frequency, moisture content, and temperature. The potential for using the dielectric properties to sense quality factors other than moisture content is also considered.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. S18-S23
Author(s):  
Lev Jakub ◽  
Kumhála František

  Continuous detection of basic physical properties of freshly picked and cleaned wet hop cones would be very helpful for better control and automation of harvesting processes. That is why the main aim of this article was to determine the effects of bulk density changes on dielectric properties of freshly picked hop cones. Relative permittivity and loss factor were measured using a newly developed capacitance measuring device. A strong linear correlation between fresh hops relative permittivity and bulk density was found. This finding could be used e.g. for consequent hop drying process control. Significant differences between tested hop varieties were observed for both relative permittivity and loss factor measurements. These differences cannot be explained only by a slightly different moisture content of the measured varieties and ambient temperature changes. Measured material loss factor was only slightly affected by bulk density changes. However, relative permittivity was affected by bulk density changes significantly. These facts could be used for other properties of wet hop cones estimation.  


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