The prediction of water activity of aqueous solutions in connection with intermediate moisture foods III. aW Prediction in multicomponent strong electrolyte aqueous solutions

Abstract

SummaryA study was made on the theoretical prediction of water activity (aW) in multicomponent aqueous solutions of strong electrolytes, in the range of aW of most interest for intermediate moisture foods (IMF). A simplified model proposed by Ross (1975) is tested against a rigorous model equation developed on the basis of recent statistical theories of electrolytes. As a result of this study a new simple and very accurate model equation is proposed for predicting aW in aqueous solutions of mixed strong electrolytes in the aW range of most interest to IMF.