Extraction of light filth from coconut: collaborative study

The official method for filth in coconut, 44.029, frequently produces filter papers with excessive plant debris and low hair recoveries. To overcome these deficiencies, 3 changes in the method were made: (1) the defatting step was modified to use sodium lauryl sulfate in combination with borax for better defatting; (2) 40% isopropanol was substituted for 60% ethanol as the aqueous phase for cleaner papers; and (3) mineral oil was substituted for n-heptane to improve hair recoveries. These changes resulted in higher, more reproducible recoveries of rodent hairs and insect fragments and cleaner filter papers. The method has been adopted as official first action to replace 44.029.