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Comparison of Toluene Distillation and Karl Fischer Methods for Determining Moisture in Dry Whole Milk

Eastern Utilization Research and Development Division, USDA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ABSTRACT

The toluene distillation and Karl Fischer methods for determining the moisture content of dried whole milk were compared. In this study both methods were employed simultaneously with a single sample. The study also included noncomparative data, i.e., analytical data obtained by one or the other method. The data were compared at four moisture ranges. In the comparative study the statistical analysis was between methods and operators. The statistical analysis of the noncomparative data was between moisture levels, for each operator and method. The results of the first comparison indicate that the mean value by the Karl Fischer method was almost identical to that obtained by toluene distillation. The statistical evaluation illustrated that the two methods do not have the same precision, especially above 7% moisture. From 0 to 7% moisture the toluene method is more precise, having confidence limits (for duplicates) of ±0.130 to 0.199. The confidence limits for Karl Fischer titration ranged from ±0.130 to 0.292. The results also indicate the existence of operator differences with both methods.

¹ Present address: The Lubrizol Corporation, 23100 Lakeland Boulevard, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092.