4.1.05
Place uncovered
AOAC Official Method 920.36
Loss on Drying (Moisture) in Animal Feed
Drying Without Heat over Sulfuric Acid
First Action 1920
Final Action
A. Reagent
Sulfuric acid.—Boil H2SO4 in large Kjeldahl flask 4 h, close flask
with stopper carrying CaCl2 tube, and cool.
B. Determination
(Caution: See Appendix B, cyclohexane.)
Weigh 2–5 g sample into 5–10 cm diameter metal dish with
tight-fit cover. (If subsequent fat determinations are to be made, fat
extn cones may be used.) Mix substances that dry down to horn-like
material with fat-free cotton or other suitable material. Place 200 mL
of the fresh H2SO4 in strong, tight vac. desiccator.
dish in desiccator and exhaust with vac. pump to pressure #10 mm
Hg.
If pump is not available, place 10 mL ether in small beaker in
desiccator and exhaust with H2O filter pump. Between pump and
desiccator interpose empty bottle next to desiccator and bottle of
H2O next to pump. Draw air from desiccator through the H2O and
turn desiccator stopcock the instant H2O begins to rise in tube
leading from empty bottle.
Gently rotate desiccator 4 or 5 times during first 12 h. After 24 h,
open desiccator, bubbling incoming air through H2SO4. Place cover
on dish and make first weighing. After weighing, place sample in
desiccator containing fresh H2SO4 and exhaust as before. Rotate
desiccator several times during interval and weigh again after
suitable drying period. Repeat process to constant weight.
References: USDA Bur. Chem. Bull. 122, 219; 132, 150.
ã 2008 AOAC INTERNATIONAL