I am working on solid waste sampling and analysis, can anyone please explain the co-relation between moisture content, volatile matter and total organic carbon?
The relationship between these parameters is the thermal conductivity of the product; It is the unique relation which can link between these three parameters;
for example Moysey et al.(1977) give the thermal conductivity of rapeseed function moisture content, it can be writen as: K=0.0941+0.0015M
we can use the amount of the carbohydrate and the volatile matter to calculate the specific capacity CP by using the following formulla of Choi and Okos 1983:
Cp=4.8 Xw+1,711Xp+1.928Xf+1.547Xc+0.908Xa
for more information please download the following file:"Physical properties of agricultural materials and food products- chapter-8-thermal properties and moisture diffusivity.
Extending the information brought by colleagues, I can add the following:
The compositional nature of the solid residue and the temperature that it is submitted may show indications of binding of these parameters.
If the solid residue is predominant in fermentable organic compounds (e.g. household food waste and/or faeces), the total organic carbon will be the most time consuming part of a greenhouse heat treatment. In a heating at 105oC water and volatile substances are eliminated together (volatile materials and humidity). If the heating is carried out at 450oC the remaining organic material will be converted to CO2 and eliminated resulting in ash (inorganic material) remaining in the test dish. Therefore, in simplified lines: residual organic material = total organic carbon + moisture (water) + volatile matter.
Thank you very much for your answers Dr. Hemis, Mr.Amtwghi and Mr. Francisco. Your answers helped me a lot. Especially Mr.Francisco as I am working with solid waste. Thank you all.