The determination of moisture in solids: A Selected Review

The scientific literature published since Pande's comprehensive monograph Handbook of Moisture Determination and Control (1974) was surveyed (to mid-1984) for new or improved techniques of determining moisture in solids. Particular attention is given to methods that might distinguish between bound and free moisture in organic solids. The classification of moisture is discussed, as well as pitfalls in sampling, in sample handling, and in the comparison of different methods. Six methods that show promise of being able to distinguish between bound and free moisture were identified: dynamic dielectric thermal analysis, coherent microwave measurements, infrared spectrometry, near-infrared reflectance spectrometry, thermal methods and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.