A direct-current resistance technique for determining moisture content in native starches and starch-based plasticized materials

This technique allows the accurate determination of the moisture content of native starch and starch-based materials using a direct-current resistance technique that conforms to established protocols. The technique uses currently available technology and can be used to measure the moisture content of homogeneous powders, pellets, or thin sheets. The range of moisture content studied was 1–40% (w/w). A second-order polynomial equation can be easily utilized to determine moisture content from the measured volume resistance. The accuracy of the resistance technique is within acceptable error for a moisture content range of 5–20% depending on starch type.