Lynne Wong's PhD thesis

convenient to hold one gram of cane fibre sample. Nine of these glass bottles could easily
be accommodated in a desiccator of 210 mm diameter and 190 mm height (Fig 5.4), and
two of these desiccators could easily be placed inside a standard air oven (make Memmert)
(Fig 5.5).
Figure 5.4.
Desiccator containing nine cane
components in glass bottles above an
aqueous solution of sulfuric acid.
Figure 5.5.
Two desiccators accommodated inside
a standard air oven.
The cane fibre samples were dried prior to subjecting them to a constant relative humidity
environment. This was particularly important when the sulfuric acid solution was of high
concentration and the temperature was low. Drying was effected in a vacuum oven of
Gallenkamp make with a power rating of 1000 W and a capacity of 31 L connected to a
Fisons single stage vacuum pump of 50 Hz and 185 W. Dishes containing silica gel were
placed in the oven to absorb moisture.
A four-decimal place analytical balance (Mettler AE200) was used for all mass
determinations. The balance was calibrated against a standard mass of 100 g each day
before use.
189