The calculation of the amount of cane sugar inverted is based on
the formula, (38.4 - _d_) ÷ 0.518 = _p_. In this formula _d_ equals
the divisions of the sugar scale read on the polariscope; _p_ the
percentage of cane sugar inverted; 38.4 the reading on the sugar scale
of the original sugar solution and 51.8 the total number of divisions
of the cane sugar scale that the polariscope reading would fall through
if all the sugar were inverted. The observation tubes used in the
polarization are only 100 millimeters in length. After stopping the
action of the invertase with potassium hydroxid the solution is allowed
to stand for some time before polarization inasmuch as the dextrose
formed appears to assume the state of birotation and some time is
required for it to reach its normal rotatory power. If the invertase
be used in the alcoholic solution a sufficient quantity should be
added to be equivalent to 0.01 of the sucrose present. The time which
the contents of beaker No. 3 will take to reach optical activity is
calculated in a manner described by O’Sullivan and Tompson, but too
long to be inserted here.[61] The five beakers mentioned above are
examined in succession and the amount of sulfuric acid best suited to
the maximum inversion thus determined. This quantity is then used in
subsequent hydrolyses with the given sample of invertase.
The action of invertase on sucrose is very rapid at the first and
becomes very much slower towards the end. At a temperature of 15°.5 it
is advisable to let the solution stand for forty-eight hours in order
to be sure that complete inversion has taken place. For this reason
the method by inversion by means of invertase is one of no great
practical importance, but it may often be useful to the analyst when
the employment of an acid is inadmissible.
=98. Inversion by Yeast.=—Owing to the difficulty of preparing
invertase, O’Sullivan and Thompson[62] propose to use yeast as the
hydrolytic agent, as first suggested by Kjeldahl. It is shown that in
the use of yeast it is not necessary to employ thymol or any other
antiseptic. The method of procedure is as follows: The cane sugar
solution of usual strength should not be alkaline, but, if possible,
should be exactly neutral. If there be any ferment suspected, the
temperature should be momentarily raised to 80° to destroy its
activity. The polariscopic reading of the solution is then taken at
15°.5 and the amount of copper reduced by the solution should also be
determined.
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