Proximate Food Analysis

1. ASH CONTENT
DETERMINATION
M S . AY E S H A S I D D I Q A

2. WHAT IS ASH?
 The ash content is a measure of the total amount of minerals present within a food,
whereas the mineral content is a measure of the amount of specific inorganic
components present within a food, such as;
Ca, Na, K and Cl. Etc…
 Analytical techniques for providing information about the total mineral content are
based on the fact that the minerals can be distinguished from all the other components
(the matrix) within a food sample

3.  Apparatus:
• Weighing Balance
• Crucible
• Muffle Furnace
• Electric Heater
• Tongs

4. DETERMINATION OF ASH CONTENT
Procedure:
1. Take 5g of dried wheat flour sample in crucible and weigh it.
2. After weighing place that sample on electric heater for incineration of organic
compounds.
3. Then place that incinerated sample in muffle furnace for 5-6hrs at 550-650°C.
4. After removal from muffle furnace whitish gray ash will be obtained.
5. Allow the sample to be cooled down and weigh it again for measurement of weight
loss.

5. FORMULA
The ash content can be calculated by following formula:
𝑨𝒔𝒉 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 (%) = 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑠ℎ / 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 × 100

6. DIAGRAMMATIC
Weigh
sample
Charring on
stove
Place sample in muffle
furnace
Weigh sample
(whitish grey ash)

7. THANK
YOU
M S . AY E S H A S I D D I Q A