Page 7 - mobile Workbook-chapter 2
P. 7
Answer
2.4 Moisture
Moisture content is expressed either as a percentage of the wet weight or as a percentage of
the dry weight of the material [2]. A transfer of moisture takes place in the garbage can and truck,
and thus, the moisture content of various components changes with time [6].
The moisture content of solid wastes is useful for estimating heat content, landfill sizing, &
transport requirements [2]. Particularly, it becomes important when the refuse is processed into
fuel or when it is fired directly [6]. That means that waste moisture parameter are one of set of
controlled data in treatment technologies.
In order to measure moisture content - M (%), we need to determine initial (wet) weight of
sample delivered - w & final (dry) weight of sample sample after drying - d. Both have the same
unit (kg/lb). The usual expression for calculating moisture content is
w − d
M = × 100
w
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