Detection of the Common Food AdulterantsBruce, Edwin M.
Science
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants
Bruce, Edwin M.
Food adulteration and inspection
_Marsh’s Test._--Fit a 100 cc. flask with a two-holed rubber stopper,
through which passes a long-stemmed separatory funnel reaching nearly to
the bottom, and a delivery tube which connects with a bulb tube
containing a little acetate of lead solution. This in turn is connected
with a calcium chlorid tube and this with a small, hard glass tube, 15
or 20 cm. long, not over 0.5 cm. bore, and drawn to small size in the
middle. The large part next the chlorid tube is protected by fine wire
gauze which extends to within a half inch of the constricted part. Two
burners may be so placed as to heat the gauze. The flask should be
placed in water and the bulb tube may be. Four grams of arsenic-free
zinc, and 40 cc. of dilute pure sulfuric acid (1 to 8) are placed in the
flask. Let the hydrogen flow at least a quarter of an hour, then heat
the gauze for 15 or 20 minutes. There should be no deposit in the tube.
Now, char a portion of the sample, dissolve in water and pour into the
separatory funnel, letting it run slowly into the flask. A dark deposit
in the glass tube shows that arsenic is present, but if after an hour no
darkening takes place it is quite safe to say that no arsenic is present
in the fruit.
[Illustration: Apparatus for Marsh Test]
_Gutzeit’s Test._--Place a gram of pure zinc, 5 cc. of dilute sulfuric
acid (6 per cent) and about 1 cc. of a solution of the sample in a deep
test tube. Cover the tube with three thicknesses of filter paper, fitted
tightly over the mouth of the tube. Place on the upper paper a drop of
strong silver nitrate solution. Place the tube in a dark place and leave
for 10 minutes. If a bright yellow stain forms on the filter paper, and
turns black or brown when water is added to it, arsenic is present.
Unless one is certain of the purity of the reagents used it is advisable
to make a blank test, using distilled water instead of the fruit.
Oxidize all sulfids to sulfates before applying the above test. To find
out whether they are present or not, substitute lead acetate for the
silver nitrate on the filter paper. To avoid some of these difficulties
treat according to the following method:
_Preparation of the sample according to Leach._--If possible reduce the
sample to a dry char by treatment with concentrated nitric and sulfuric
acids so that it may be powdered in a mortar. Dissolve out the arsenic
by repeated treatment with boiling water. Save this extract, and, when
cool, filter and submit to Marsh’s test which is given above.
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