DETERMINATION OF THE MOISTURE-CONTENT OF BARLEY

The method of the International Organization for Standardization, (ISO 712 - 1985) for the determination of moisture in cereals and cereal p roducts, has been tested by members of the Analysis Committee of the E uropean Brewery Convention on samples of barley. The method, which rel ies on loss in mass on drying at 130 - 133 degrees C for 2 h, is recom mended for use as a replacement for the current method, based on loss in mass on drying at 105 - 107 degrees C for 3 h. It was judged that p recision values were independent of concentration over the range 11 to 13% m/m. Repeatability (r(95)) and Reproducibility (R(95)) values of 0.13 and 0.55 respectively were obtained over this range. At a mean le vel of 21.7% mim, the r(95) and R(95) values were 0.27 and 2.6 respect ively. This was probably due to errors associated with the double dryi ng technique which is necessary for samples at this moisture content.