TDR application for moisture content estimation in agri-food materials

Abstract

Cereals and legumes are invaluable resources, as they represent the raw materials of many foods and beverages. Cereals are also largely used as livestock feeds, thus indirectly influencing the quality of dairy products and meat. Because of their key role in human nutrition and well-being, the safety and quality of these agri-food materials are extremely important topics in food science. In this regard, moisture content is one of the ultimate factors influencing the quality, safety and price of the final food product; hence, it is crucial to monitor water content of materials in the food production line. Starting from these considerations, this paper describes the use of time domain reflectometry (TDR) for both in-line and off-line moisture content sensing of agrifood materials. In particular, after a brief description of the basic principles of TDR, two representative application cases for moisture content measurements of agri-food materials are reported and commented on.