Determination of moisture content and loss on drying: Pharm Engg Lab
Pharmaceutical Engineering Practical Lab Manual PDF Download
AIM:
To determine the moisture content and loss on drying.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Petri dish
- Measuring cylinder
- Pipette
- Tray dryer
- Calcium carbonate
- Spatula
- Weighing balance
PROCEDURE:
- Take a clean dry Petri dish and weigh it (x)
- Weigh 10g of calcium carbonate powder and transfer to Petri dish and weight it
- Add a sufficient amount of water with the help of a pipette to the powder until slurry forms.
- Again weigh the Petri dish and note down weight (y)
- Place the Petri dish in a tray dryer and weigh it every 5 min
- Allow it to dry until it’s constant weight then down the constant dry weight (z)
- Calculate the percentage loss on drying and moisture content for the sample.
REPORT:
The moisture content and loss on drying were determined
The percentage of moisture content is =
The loss on drying is =
Calculation:
- Weight of empty petridish (x) =
- Weight of empty petridish + sample + water (y) = Weight of empty petridish + sample + water (After drying at every 5 minutes) =
- Loss of drying =
Also Read : Significance of Moisture Content and Loss on Drying in Pharmaceuticals
Pharm Engg Chapterwise MCQ: UNIT-I MCQ * Flow of fluids * Size reduction * Size separation UNIT-II MCQ *Heat transfer *Distillation *Evaporation UNIT-III MCQ *Drying * Mixing UNIT-IV MCQ * Filtration * Centrifugation * UNIT-V MCQ Materials of construction * Corrosion
Pharmaceutical Engineering Practical Lab Manual PDF Download
I. Determination of radiation constant of brass, iron, unpainted and painted glass.
II. Steam distillation – To calculate the efficiency of steam distillation.
III. To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient by the heat exchanger.
IV. Construction of drying curves (for calcium carbonate and starch).
V. Determination of moisture content and loss on drying.
VI. Determination of humidity of the air – i) From wet and dry bulb temperatures –use of Dew point method.
VII. Description of Construction working and application of Pharmaceutical Machinery such as rotary tablet machine, fluidized bed coater, fluid energy mill, dehumidifier.
VIII. Size analysis by sieving – To evaluate size distribution of tablet granulations – Construction of various size frequency curves including arithmetic and logarithmic probability plots.
IX. Size reduction: To verify the laws of size reduction using a ball mill and determining Kicks, Rittinger’s, Bond’s coefficients, power requirement and critical speed of Ball Mill.
X. Demonstration of colloid mill, planetary mixer, fluidized bed dryer, freeze dryer and such other major equipment.
XI. Factors affecting Rate of Filtration and Evaporation (Surface area, Concentration and Thickness/ viscosity)
XII. To study the effect of time on the Rate of Crystallization.
XIII. To calculate the uniformity Index for a given sample by using Double Cone Blender.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Moisture content refers to the amount of water present in a pharmaceutical substance. It is crucial to determine moisture content as excess moisture can lead to degradation, microbial growth, and altered physical properties of the product.
The Karl Fischer titration method relies on the reaction between water and iodine. The amount of iodine required to react with the water in the sample is proportional to the moisture content, allowing for accurate moisture determination.
Loss on Drying (LOD) involves measuring the weight loss of a sample upon heating at a specific temperature, typically around 105°C. It captures not only water but also volatile solvents or other volatile components. Karl Fischer titration specifically targets water content.
Factors like temperature, humidity, sample size, handling, and the method used can influence the accuracy of moisture content determination. Proper calibration and control of these factors are essential for precise results.
Raw materials with varying moisture content can affect the quality, stability, and processing of pharmaceutical products. Analyzing moisture content helps ensure consistent product quality.
The LOD method involves weighing a sample, heating it at a specific temperature (usually 105°C), and re-weighing it until a constant weight is achieved. The weight loss indicates the amount of volatile substances, including water, in the sample.
Hygroscopic materials readily absorb moisture from the environment, making it challenging to accurately measure their moisture content. Special handling and quick analysis are often required.
Yes, other methods include infrared moisture balance, capacitance-based moisture analyzers, and gravimetric methods. Each method has its advantages and limitations.
Reporting moisture content on a dry basis eliminates the influence of the sample’s original weight, providing a consistent measure of the actual moisture content regardless of initial variations in sample size.
Regulatory bodies, such as pharmacopeias, establish guidelines and acceptance criteria for moisture content to ensure product quality, safety, and efficacy. Compliance with these standards is crucial for regulatory approval.
Second Year B Pharm Notes, Syllabus, Books, PDF Subjectwise/Topicwise
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