Week 1: Lab Testing: Soxhlet Method
This week in the lab I conducted what will be the first of many tests to determine the fat content of my product. I used the Soxhlet Method to perform this task .
Firstly I collected the glassware necessary for the reflux and set up my equipment accordingly.
This experiment is conducted in duplicate to ensure error does not occur. Once set up 5g of sample was weighed out and placed into a porous thimble. this was placed into the main body of the reflux and petroleum ether was poured over it. Cotton wool is placed over the thimble to protect the content from the ether.
The reflux was run for approximately 2hrs and once finished the round bottom flasks were placed into a hot oven to eliminate any extra moisture in the sample. They were then placed into a desiccator to cool and weighed.