4.1.

05
i
AOAC Official Surplus Method 920.36i
Moisture in Animal Feed

Drying without Heat over Sulfuric Acid

Final Action
Surplus 1974

7.006-7.007, 12th ed.

7.006 Reagent

Sulfuric acid.—Boil H2SO4 in large Kjeldahl flask

4 hr, close flask with stopper carrying CaCl2 tube, and
cool.

7.007 Determination

(Caution: See Appendix B, cyclohexane, p. 5)

Weigh 2–5 g sample into 5–10 cm diam. metal dish

with tight-fit cover. (If subsequent fat detns 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. Place uncovered
dsh 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 thru 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
hr. After 24 hr, open desiccator, bubbling incoming air
thru H2SO4. Place cover on dish and make first
weighing. After weighing, place sample in desiccator
contg fresh H2SO4 and exhaust as before. Rotate
desiccator several times during interval and weigh
again after suitable drying period. Repeat process to
constant wt.

Reference: USDA Bur. Chem. Bull. 122, p 219; 132,

p 150.

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