ASTM E949

Total Moisture in a Refuse-Derived Fuel Laboratory Sample

Applicability: ASTM E949 applies to refuse-derived fuel (RDF) laboratory samples in fluffed or shredded form (RDF-3) produced from processed municipal solid waste (MSW), after reduction to laboratory sample size for analysis. It covers the determination of total moisture present in the as-received laboratory sample, including both free surface moisture and inherent moisture. The method complements ASTM E828, which covers the particle size designation of RDF-3 materials.

Purpose: ASTM E949 determines the total moisture content of an RDF laboratory sample by oven-drying a weighed portion at 105°C to constant mass and reporting the loss in mass as a percentage of the original as-received weight. Total moisture is a critical parameter for normalizing analytical results — including ash content, volatile matter, and heating value — to a moisture-free or as-received basis, and is required for accurately calculating the energy content of refuse-derived fuels for use in waste-to-energy facilities and industrial co-firing applications.