Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric Properties of Pecans

Temperature-dependent dielectric properties data were collected on mechanically shelled and separated pecan kernel pieces at temperatures from 0 to 40° C and moisture contents ranging from 3.2 to 8.9%, wet basis. Measurements by two impedance analyzers with a shielded, open-circuited, coaxial-line sample holder were used in calculating the dielectric properties in the frequency range from 0.100 to 110 MHz. The dielectric constant and loss factor both increased with increasing temperature, increased with moisture content, and decreased with increasing frequency.