41.1.06 Table 985.

19 Density (g/mL) of H2O at different

AOAC Official Method 985.19 temperatures (°C)
(Apparent) Weight per Unit Volume Tempera- Tempera- Tempera-
and Specific Gravity of Fats and Oils ture Density ture Density ture Density
Pycnometer Method 15 0.99913 32 0.99505 49 0.98852
First Action 1985
16 0.99897 33 0.99473 50 0.98807
Final Action 1994
17 0.99880 34 0.99440 51 0.98762
ISO–AOAC Method 18 0.99862 35 0.99406 52 0.98715
A. Principle 19 0.99843 36 0.99371 53 0.98669
Weight of given volume of liquid fat at desired temperature is de- 20 0.99823 37 0.99336 54 0.98621
termined in pycnometer previously calibrated at same temperature. 21 0.99802 38 0.99299 55 0.98573

B. Apparatus 22 0.99780 39 0.99262 56 0.98525

(a) Pycnometer.—Ca 50 mL capacity, equipped with cap and ther- 23 0.99757 40 0.99225 57 0.98475
mometer graduated in 0.1°C (Kimble Glass Inc. No. 15123-50, or 24 0.99733 41 0.99186 58 0.98425
equivalent). Carefully clean pycnometer by filling with chromic acid 25 0.99707 42 0.99147 59 0.98375
cleaning solution and letting stand several hours. Empty pycnometer 26 0.99681 43 0.99107 60 0.98324
and rinse thoroughly with H2O. 27 0.99654 44 0.99066 61 0.98272
(b) Water bath.—Constant temperature, held at temperature
28 0.99626 45 0.99024 62 0.98220
(±5°C) at which determination is to be made (T).
29 0.99597 46 0.98982 63 0.98167
C. Calibration of Pycnometer
30 0.99568 47 0.98940 64 0.98113
Fill pycnometer, (a), with recently boiled H2O previously cooled 31 0.99537 48 0.98896 65 0.98059
to ca 5°C below constant temperature bath, (b), carefully insert and
seal thermometer avoiding any air bubbles, and place in constant
temperature bath. After 1 h, adjust H2O level to proper point on
pycnometer, stopper, read temperature (T) to 0.1°C. Remove If volume of fat is measured at temperature T° close to T:
pycnometer from bath, wipe dry with clean cloth, let cool if neces-
sary, and weigh to 0.1 mg. Empty pycnometer, rinse several times DT (g/mL) = DT′ (g/mL) + 0.00068(T′ – T)
with alcohol and then ether, let dry completely, remove ether vapor,
replace thermometer and cap, and weigh to 0.1 mg.

Volume (mL) of pycnometer at temperature T = VT
VT = [(W′ – W)/(dH2 O, T)] [1 + a(T – T)′]
where W and W′ = weight (g) of pycnometer empty and filled with
H2O, respectively; dH2 O, T′ = density (g/mL) of H2O at temperature
(T), from Table 985.19; and a = mean coefficient of cubic expansion
of pycnometer (a = 0.000010 for borosilicate glass, 0.000025 for
soda lime glass).
D. Determination
(a) Oils and fats fluid at room temperature.—Weigh (to 0.1 mg)
empty, clean pycnometer with cap and thermometer. Fill
pycnometer with test sample which is at temperature below that of
constant temperature bath, and proceed as under Calibration of
Pycnometer.
(b) Fats solid at room temperature.—Melt fat at temperature ca
10 above its melting point, mix well, and let stand at elevated tem-
perature to eliminate air bubbles. Proceed as in (a).
E. Calculations
(a) Calculate weight per unit volume (DT) of sample at tempera-
ture T in g/mL as follows:
W −W ′
DT (g/mL) =
VT
where W and W′ = weight (g) of pycnometer empty and filled with
test sample; VT = volume of pycnometer (mL) at temperature T.
where correction coefficient 0.00068 is approximate (if actual coef-
ficient for sample is known, it should be used).
(b) Calculate specific gravity (specific gravityT) of sample at
temperature T as follows:
Specific gravityT = DT/dH2 O,T
where D T = weight per unit volume (g/mL) of sample at T and
dH 2 O,T = density of H 2 O at T (from Table 985.19).
If sample and H2O are weighed in same pycnometer, at same
temperature (T),
specific gravityT = Wsample/W H 2 O
Repeatability.—Difference between results of 2 determinations
done simultaneously or in quick succession by same analyst should
not exceed 2 units of 4th decimal place.
References: Standard Methods for the Analysis of Oils, Fats, and
Derivatives, 6th Ed., 1979, Pergamon Press, New
York, NY.
Taylor, J.K. Treatise on Analytical Chemistry, I.M.
Kolthoff & P.J. Elving (Eds), 1967, Interscience Pub-
lishers, New York, NY, Part I, Sec. D-4, Vol. 7,
Ch. 81, “Measurement of Density and Specific Grav-
ity,” pp 4561–4610.

© 2000 AOAC INTERNATIONAL