Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #273583
Title: Estimating the Kernel Mass Ratio in Peanuts Nondestructively Using a Low-Cost Impedance Meter

Author
item Kandala, Chari
item Sundaram, Jaya
item V.S. SETTALURI, V. - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2011
Publication Date: 7/11/2011
Citation: Kandala, C., Sundaram, J., V.S. Settaluri, V.S. 2011. Estimating the Kernel Mass Ratio in Peanuts Nondestructively Using a Low-Cost Impedance Meter. American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts. 5.

Interpretive Summary: None is required.

Technical Abstract: Earlier, we investigated the possibility of estimating the mass of the kernels in a given volume of unshelled peanuts using a commercial impedance meter. Measurements of impedance and phase angles of peanut samples were made from 1 to 10 MHz at intervals of 1 MHz. The measured values were correlated to the mass ratio of the kernels and an empirical equation was developed from which the mass ratios of unknown samples were estimated. The results were encouraging and to make the process simpler and lower in costs, we identified three frequencies in this range and made measurements at these frequencies using an impedance meter developed in our laboratory. Impedance and phase angle of about 150g of peanut samples held between two parallel-plate electrodes in a vertical cylinder were measured using this impedance meter. The samples were then shelled, and mature kernels were collected and weighed. The ratio of the kernel weights to the in-shell peanuts (mass ratio) was correlated to the measured values using an empirical equation. The equation is validated using it to estimate the mass ratio of peanut samples not used in the calibration, and comparing the results with those obtained by weighing the kernels. This method is low-cost, fast and nondestructive.