Extraction of light filth from ground nutmeg: collaborative study

The official method for extracting light filth from ground nutmeg, 44.116, gives variable recoveries of filth elements and results in large amounts of interfering plant material in the light filth extraction. A new method has been developed using a chloroform pretreatment for heavy filth followed by a water-40% isopropanol-mineral oil flotation of light filth. A comparison of the methods in the collaborative study showed a higher recovery of insect fragments, 90.6 vs. 65.2%, and of rodent hairs, 86.5 vs. 66.5%, for the new method over the present official first action method, 44.116. Frothing, an additional problem with the official method, has been reduced by the new method. The new method has been adopted as official first action to replace the existing method.