ASTA ANALYTICAL METHODS

Method 10.0
Sieve Analysis

Purpose: To determine the particle size distribution of prepared samples.

A. Apparatus:
1. Shaking device, Ro-Tap or Brinkman Vibratory Sieve-Model VS1 or VE1, or
equivalent.

2. Sieves, U.S. Standard or equivalent, eight inches in diameter, with cover and bottom
pan (clean and free of oil and other contamination). (Note 1)

3. Faucet washers, rubber, diameter 19/32 inches.

4. Balance, top loader, accuracy +0.1 g.

5. Jar, 8 oz. screwcap.

B. Reagents:

1. Syloid #244, Davidson Chemical (Division of W.R. Grace & Co., Inc.), P.O. Box
2117, Baltimore, MD 21203-2117, 410-659-9000, sieved through U.S. Standard No.
100 sieve.

C. Preparation of Sample:

1. Use as is.

D. Procedure:

1. Obtain the tare weight of each sieve (Note 1) containing three faucet washers (Note 2)
and nest the sieves in order of decreasing fineness; attach the cover and tared bottom
pan.

2. Weigh 50.0 g sample into tared 8 oz. screwcap jar.

3. Weigh 1.0 g of Syloid 244, or equivalent, and add it to the contents of the jar.
(Notes 3 & 4)

4. Cap the jar tightly and mix by inversion until a uniform or homogeneous mixture
results.

5. Transfer the mixture quantitatively to the top sieve.

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 ASTA ANALYTICAL METHODS

Method 10.0
Sieve Analysis

6. Mount the nested sieves in the shaking device and shake two minutes plus an
additional two minutes for each sieve (do not include the pan).

7. Reweigh each sieve with washers and the pan then subtract the tare weight to obtain
the fraction retained.

E. Calculation:
Grams Retained/Screen x 100
___________________________________
= % Retained on Each Sieve
∑g. Retained on Screens + Pan

F. Statistics:

TBD

G. Notes:

1. Acetone is recommended for cleaning screens.

2. For leafy items, use washers only on the underside of U.S. Standard No. 40 mesh or
finer to prevent breakage of leaf.

3. 1.0g Additional Syloid may be added for spice powders containing larger amounts of
oil, such mustard flour, nutmeg and mace.

4. Syloid not necessary for product coarser than U.S. Standard No. 20 mesh.

H. Reference:

N/A

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 ASTA ANALYTICAL METHODS

Method 10.0
Equivalent Sieve Sizes

Tyler Standard U.S. Standard Standard

Mesh Sieve Silk
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 10
10 12
12 14
0000
14 16
16 18
0000
20 20
24 25
00
28 30
0
32 35
35 40
1
42 45
2
3
4
48 50
5
60 60
6
65 70
7
8
80 80
9
100 100 10

-47- Revised October 2004