STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE LAB EQUIPMENT INFRA RED (IR) MOISTURE BALANCE

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

SUBJECT :                     LAB EQUIPMENT INFRA RED  (IR) MOISTURE BALANCE

DEPARTMENT           : QA SOP NO.                      : Page No                       : Effective Date             : Next Review                : Version No                  :

1.0       OBJECTIVE: To provide guidelines in the handling of IR Moisture Balance.

2.0       SCOPE:  

To establish a procedure for operating of Infra Red moisture balance.

3.0       PROCEDURE:

3.1       Put a single disposable pan on the sample pan and turn the scale lamp on by means of the Toggle switch (M) switching on mains.

3.2       By turning the scale adjusting knob (L) rotate the scale (J)

3.3       The pointer (K) may now be above or below the index Mark. Move the pointer (K) to coincide with 

              the index mark. Until the 100% mark coincides with the index mark.

3.4       Note the position of the scale pointer. Turn it towards the pointer to coincide it exactly with the 

             index mark. Note that the pointer should move freely without any jerks

3.5       Turn the scale control knob to bring the scale to Zero. The instrument is now calibrated and ready

             for use.

3.6       With the scale at Zero, distribute the sample evenly through-out the Disposable pan, so that the pans remain horizontal and do not touch the retainer pans on its sides at any position.      

3.7                   Place a sample of the specific material to be tested on the Disposable Pan. Switch on the  

                        Heating lamp and view temperature of the Heating chamber on the L Bend Thermometer.

                        Adjust the Temperature controller Knob to get the desired temperature. The temperature

                        should be such that the sample should not get charred, Observe the results

3.5         To determine the % reduction of weight at any time during the drying operation, rotate the Scale (J)        

       by turning the scale adjusting knob (L) until the pointer (K) returns to the index mark . Read the %            

       of moisture lost, based upon the initial weight of the sample. To convert this number to the % of

       moisture on the dry basis, use the formula.

                                P1 = 100 p/ 100-p

            Where p is % of moisture lost by the sample and P1 is moisture on dry basis.

4.0        To assure the complete drying, wait one to three minutes or until reading on the scale is stable.  Record the final moisture content and switch off the heating lamp.

4.0       FREQUENCY:  As and when required.

5.0       RESPONSIBILITY: Executive Q.A.

6.0       REVIEW GUIDE:

7.0       ANNEXURE: -------

8.0       SOPs DISTRIBUTION:

            This SOP shall be distributed to following Departments:

Name of the Department	Master Copy	Circulatory Copy
QA/QC	√	√
Production	x	x
Warehouse	x	x
General	x	x
Maintenance	x	x