Abstract
A RAPID method for the estimation of water in animals and plants consisting of distillation with an immiscible liquid has been suggested1. The liquid used was xylol, and some charring of sugar occurred. If toluene (b.p. 110.7° C.) is substituted for xylol, the amount of decomposition and charring is much reduced and is scarcely appreciable even with sugar–containing substances such as jam, honey, fruit extracts, and confectionery products. The boiling–point of toluene is sufficiently high to ensure rapid and complete vaporization of all water present, and the method gives results comparable with those obtained by drying in vacuo or by oven drying after the addition of alcohol, and higher than those obtained by ‘straight’ oven drying, at 105–110°C.
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Lowndes, A. G., NATURE, 148, 594 (1941).
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WARNE, L. Rapid Determination of Water in Animals and Plants. Nature 148, 756 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/148756a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/148756a0
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