If Bambara groundnuts weighing 650 kg at 28 percent moisture

If Bambara groundnuts weighing 650 kg at 28 percent moisture content are dried to 12 percent moisture content, what is the weight of the dried Bambara groundnuts?

Solution

Let us first write down the given data

Weight of bambara nuts = 650kg
Percent of moisture = 28%

Part 1: Estimating weight of dry biomass

To estimate the weight of dry biomass, we have to find out the weight of moisture from the percetage given.
Therefore, Weight of moisture = 28% of 650 kg = (28/100)*650 = 182 Kg
Weight of dry bambara nuts = ( Total weight - weight of moisture) = (650 - 182) = 468 Kg.

Part 2: Estimating the weight of moisture lost

Given that the moisture is dried down to 12% . That means, out of the total moisture present, 88% moisture is removed.

Let us translate amount of lost moisture in terms of weight.
Total moisture weight = 182 Kg
88% of total moisture weight = (88/100) * 182 = 160.12 Kg
That means, in order to reduce the moisture content down to 12%, we have to remove 160.12 Kg of moisture in terms of weight.
Remaining moisture = ( original moisture weight) - ( Weight that is removed) = ( 182 - 160.12) = 21.84 Kg

Part 3: Estimating the weight of dried bambara nuts

Weight of dried bambaa nuts = (dry weight of bambara nuts) + ( weight of remaining moisture)

= ( 468 Kg + 21.84 Kg)

= 489.84 Kg

Therefore, weight of dried bambara groundnuts is 489.84 Kg.