IMPROVEMENTS OF EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE-CONTENT MODELS FOR COTTON

Data from Griffin (1974) and that of Urquhart and Williams (1924) were used to evaluate available equilibrium moisture content models at nor mal temperature and at elevated temperatures (up to 90-degrees-C). Mod els evaluated included the Henderson and Perry (1976), a simple cubic polynomial, and the BET [Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (1938) as modifi ed by Dent (1977)]. All three models were evaluated for lint equilibri um moisture content at normal temperature. The BET model gave the best fit, but the simpler models gave satisfactory results for engineering calculations. Only the BET model gave adequate fit for variable tempe rature applications. Equilibrium moisture content is important in the processes involved in lint spinning. A reasonable amount of data is av ailable on moisture absorption, but there is a lack of data on the des orption process. Since drying lint in seed cotton samples is a desorpt ion process, a set of equations were devised to convert from one proce ss to the other by a simple calculation.