EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA 10.0 2.1.3.

Ultraviolet ray lamps for analytical purposes

2.1. APPARATUS 01/2008:20102

01/2008:20101

2.1.2. COMPARATIVE TABLE OF

POROSITY OF SINTERED-GLASS
2.1.1. DROPPERS FILTERS(1)
The term ‘drops’ means standard drops delivered from a Table 2.1.2.-1
standard dropper as described below. Porosity number Maximum Germany France United
Standard droppers (Figure 2.1.1.-1) are constructed of (Ph. Eur.)(2) diameter of pores Kingdom
in micrometres
practically colourless glass. The lower extremity has a circular – –
1.6 less than 1.6 5f
orifice in a flat surface at right angles to the axis.
– 1 - 2.5 5 – 5
4 1.6 - 4 – – –
– 4-6 – 5 –

10 4 - 10 4f – 4
16 10 - 16 4 4 –

40 16 - 40 3 3 3
– 40 - 50 – – 2
100 40 - 100 2 2 –
– 100 - 120 – – 1
160 100 - 160 1 1 –
– 150 - 200 0 0 –

250 160 - 250 – – –

– 200 - 500 – 00 –

Special Uses
Diameters in micrometres
< 2.5 Bacteriological filtration
4 - 10 Ultra-fine filtration, separation of micro-organisms of large
diameter
10 - 40 Analytical filtration, very fine filtration of mercury, very fine
dispersion of gases
40 - 100 Fine filtration, filtration of mercury, fine dispersion of gases
100 - 160 Filtration of coarse materials, dispersion and washing of gases,
support for other filter materials
160 - 500 Filtration of very coarse materials, dispersion and washing of
gases.

01/2008:20103

2.1.3. ULTRAVIOLET RAY LAMPS FOR

Figure 2.1.1.-1. – Standard dropper
Dimensions in millimetres
Other droppers may be used provided they comply with the
following test.
20 drops of water R at 20 ± 1 °C flowing freely from the
dropper held in the vertical position at a constant rate of
1 drop per second weighs 1000 ± 50 mg.
The dropper must be carefully cleaned before use. Carry out 3
determinations on any given dropper. No result may deviate by
more than 5 per cent from the mean of the 3 determinations.
(1) The given limits are only approximate.
(2) The European Pharmacopoeia has adopted the system proposed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ANALYTICAL PURPOSES
Mercury vapour in quartz lamps is used as the source of
ultraviolet light. A suitable filter may be fitted to eliminate the
visible part of the spectrum emitted by the lamp. When the
Pharmacopoeia prescribes in a test the use of ultraviolet light
of wavelength 254 nm or 365 nm, an instrument consisting of
a mercury vapour lamp and a filter which gives an emission
band with maximum intensity at about 254 nm or 365 nm is
used. The lamp used should be capable of revealing without
doubt a standard spot of sodium salicylate with a diameter
of about 5 mm on a support of silica gel G R, the spot being
examined while in a position normal to the radiation.

General Notices (1) apply to all monographs and other texts 15