Determining ash involves heating a sample to remove organic material and leaving behind inorganic residue.
There are two commonly used methods for ash determination: dry ashing and wet ashing.
5 Key Points to Know About Determining Ash
1. Dry Ashing
Dry ashing is an analytical technique that uses a high-temperature muffle furnace capable of handling temperatures up to 500-600°C.
In this method, the sample is heated to its dry state, causing water and other volatile materials to vaporize.
The organic matter in the sample is burned in the presence of oxygen in the air, producing carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen gas.
Most of the minerals present in the sample are converted into sulfates, phosphates, chlorides, and silicates.
The weight of the sample before and after the ashing process is used to calculate the ash content.
2. Calculating Ash Content
The ash content is calculated as follows:
Ash content = (Mass of ash sample) / (Mass of dry sample) * 100%
3. Wet Ashing
Wet ashing is a faster method used for determining ash content in food samples.
In this process, the sample is diluted with distilled water and heated to nearly boiling.
The resulting solution is then filtered.
The soluble ash is determined by drying the filtrate, while the insoluble ash is determined by rinsing, drying, and ashing the filter paper.
The difference in weight before and after the test is the percentage of ash content.
4. Importance of Ash Content Determination
The determination of ash content in a particular product helps measure the total amount of minerals within the product.
5. Ashing Furnaces
Ashing furnaces are designed specifically for the product(s) to be tested and have a heating element, scale, and chamber for weighing the sample before, during, and after it is burnt.
Ashing furnaces are relatively small and can be easily replaced if needed.
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