Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1204 LAB)

Department of Chemistry
-1-

EXPERIMENT 2: DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE AND

ASH
Erica Mae O. Gabriel, Jerome Mendoza, Reygiline Clemente and Via Viloria

Abstract: The purpose of this experiment is that the students should be able to determine the moisture &
ash content of the sample and operate the muffle furnace properly. The students were able to computed the
percent moisture and ash of the food sample.

1. Introduction
Moisture content affects the processibility, shelf-life, 2.2 Determination of Moisture
usability and quality of a product. Accurate moisture content First, two clean porcelain crucibles were tared to
determination therefore plays a key role in ensuring quality constant weight using an oven. Second, two 1 grams of
in many industries including Food, Pharmaceuticals and powdered food sample was weighed using an analytical
Chemicals (Toledo, n.d). balance. The exact mass was also recorded. Third, the two
Moisture content analysis is a critical component of samples were placed inside the crucibles. Then, it was dried
material quality and essentially a function of quality control in the oven with a temperature of 105℃ for one hour.
in most production and laboratory facilities. From biological Fourth, the two crucibles were cooled inside the desiccator
research organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, to for five minutes. After that, the crucibles were weighed
food producers and packers, moisture content control using an analytical balance. Fifth, procedures 3 and 4 were
greatly influences the physical properties and product repeated until a constant weight is achieved. Lastly, the
quality of nearly all substances and materials at all stages of percent moisture content was calculated using this formula:
processing and final product existence. Moisture is simply
water diffused in a relatively small quantity. Nearly all Weight lost after drying
materials contain at least a diminutive volume of moisture
% Moisture = × 100
Weight of the sample
as a component of the molecular makeup. Moisture is a
given in the mass of materials, however the relative 2.3 Determination of Ash
percentage is dynamic and therefore not constant The two crucibles from the first part were obtained
(Wesolowski, 2013). and placed inside the muffle furnace with a temperature of
Ash content is the fraction in biomass that is 550℃. After one hour, the muffle furnace was cooled to
composed of incombustible mineral material. Ash is present 50℃. Then, the two crucibles were put in a desiccator for
in the biomass in the form of certain inorganic compounds five minutes until the crucibles cooled for room
like sodium, potassium, calcium, silicon, phosphorous, and temperature. Next, the crucibles were weighed using an
chlorine. The inorganics especially, potassium and calcium, analytical balance. Lastly, the percent ash of the sample was
catalyze biomass decomposition and char-forming reactions calculated using this formula:
(Awasthi, 2019).
Ashing in analytical chemistry is defined as the
heating of a substance to leave only noncombustible ash, Weight of ash
which is analyzed for its elemental composition. Dry % Ash = × 100
Weight of the sample
Ashing is usually performed by placing the sample in an
open inert vessel and destroying the combustible (organic)
portion of the sample by thermal decomposition using a 3. Results and Discussion
muffle furnace. Typical ashing temperatures are 450 to 550 3.1 Determination of Moisture
°C (Gaines, n.d.). Table 1. Actual Mass of the Crucible and Food Sample
Actual Mass of Actual mass of
Crucibles the food sample
2. Materials and Methods 1 40.1216 1.0003
2.1 Preparation of Materials 2 39.8423 1.0013
Powdered food was provided by the students while
the lab equipment and apparatus such as crucible tong,
spatula, desiccator, drying oven, porcelain crucible, paper
analytical balance and muffle furnace was provided by the
chemistry main laboratory.
 Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1204 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
-2-

Crucible 2:

Table 2. Mass of the Crucibles with Food sample after Weight of ash
drying
% Ash = × 100
Weight of the sample
Trials Mass of Crucible Mass of Crucible
1 with food 2 with food 0.0991g
= × 100
sample sample 1.0013g
1 40.8349 40.2303
2 40.8293 41.2248 % Ash =9.8971%
3 40.8283 41.2221
4 40.8362 41.2282
Conclusion
This tables shows the process of determining the The students were able to determine the
moisture content of the food sample. The first table shows moisture & ash content of the sample and operate
the initial mass of the two crucibles and the two food the muffle furnace properly.
sample. The second table shows the mass of the two
crucible after drying it in an oven. Documentations

Weight lost after drying

% Moisture = × 100
Weight of the sample

0.2857g
= × 100 References
1.0003g
% Moisture =28.5614%
This calculation shows the computation of percent Awasthi, (2019). Biofuels: Alternative Feedstocks and
moisture of the food sample. The percent moisture of the Conversion Processes for the Production of Liquid and
Crucible 1 is 28.5614%. Gaseous Biofuels (Second Edition). Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/ash-
content
3.2 Determination of Ash
Table 3. Mass of the Crucibles with food sample after Gaines, (n.d.) Trace Analysis Guide: Part 14. Retrieved
heating in the muffle furnace from https://www.inorganicventures.com/trace-analysis-
Mass guide/ashing-proceduresThijssen P.C., (2010).
1 40.3098
2 39.9414 Toledo, (n.d). Moisture Content Analysis. Retrieved from
https://www.mt.com/ph/en/home/applications/Laboratory_w
Table 6. Percent Ash of the Food Sample
eighing/moisture-content-determination.html
Percent Ash
1 18.8144%
Wesolowski, (2013). What Is Moisture Content Analysis?.
2 9.8971% Retrieved from
https://www.scientistlive.com/content/what-moisture-
This table shows the process of determining the content-analysis
percent ash of the food sample. Table 3 shows the mass of
the two crucible after heating it inside the muffle furnace.
Table 6 shows the computed percent ash of the food sample.

Crucible 1:
Weight of ash
% Ash = × 100
Weight of the sample

0.1882g
= × 100
1.0003g

% Ash =18.8143%