Abstract

Abstract A procedure for accurate determination of water activity (aw) in a high range (aw between 0.920 and 0.970) using a Beckman Hygroline apparatus was devised because the prescribed calibration procedure was inadequate. This new procedure uses NaCl solutions as standards and the aw values for NaCl solutions reported by Robinson as the reference scale. A quadratic calibration curve: Recorder reading = b0 + b1aw + b2aw2 was established for each sensor. A 3-point calibration scheme, taking measurements of 0.9m (molal), 1.6m, and 2.4m NaCl solutions, was used before and after a series of aw measurements of samples to estimate b0 and verify the constancy of shape of the calibration curve. The equation was solved for aw to convert each recorder reading to an aw value on Robinson’s scale. This procedure yielded precision and accuracy levels for a single determination of 0.0009 and 0.0013 aw unit, respectively. Accuracy of 0.0009 aw unit was obtained by averaging 2 determinations on different sensors.

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