26.1.
07 calibration temperature and after 30 min carefully dilute to volume,
AOAC Official Method 942.06
Alcohol by Volume
in Distilled Liquors
Pycnometer Method
Final Action
Codex-adopted-AOAC Method*
A. Apparatus
Distillation apparatus.—500 mL flask, connected through bulb
to vertically assembled Liebig condenser with jacket 400 mm long,
inner tube 9 1 mm id, with adapter. Joints may be live rubber or
standard taper. Heat with electric- or gas-operated unit.
B. Determination
(Some samples do not require distillation prior to determination,
e.g., straight bourbon whisky; alcohol-H2O mixtures containing
traces of volatile ingredients.)
(a) Samples containing 60% or less alcohol by volume.—Cali-
brate 100 mL pycnometer, Figure 942.06, as in 945.06B (see
26.1.06), at one of temperatures specified in 913.02 (see Appendix
C). Fill clean, dry pycnometer with sample and adjust to volume at
calibration temperature as in 945.06B (see 26.1.06).
Transfer contents of pycnometer to distilling flask, just previously
rinsed with cold H2O and containing few glass beads, or equivalent.
Rinse pycnometer 3 times, using total of 25 mL cold H2O (40 mL
for cordials or wines), and add rinse H2O to flask. Place wet
pycnometer so that adapter extends just into bulb. Surround
pycnometer with ice or ice-H2O. Complete connections and pass
through condenser rapid stream of H2O kept at 25 at outlet. Distil ca
96 mL at uniform rate in 30 but 60 min, using longer times for higher
percentages of alcohol. Remove and stopper pycnometer, mix dis-
tillate by swirling, and wash down with H2O any drops that may be
above graduation mark. Immerse in constant temperature bath at
Figure 942.09—100 mL and 50 mL pycnometers
Copyright 1998 AOAC INTERNATIONAL
with aid of capillary tube, by adding H2O previously boiled and
cooled to same temperature. Determine specific gravity of distillate
as in 945.06C (see 26.1.06). Obtain corresponding % alcohol by
volume from 913.02 (see Appendix C). (This result is % alcohol by
volume at 15.56 [60F].)
(b) Samples containing more than 60% alcohol by volume.—
Proceed as in (a) with following changes: Calibrate 100 mL and
50 mL pycnometers, Figure 942.06, at 15.56, fill 50 mL pycnome-
ter with sample, and adjust to volume at 15.56. Add 50 mL cold
H2O to distilling flask before transfer of sample and collect
distillate in 100 mL pycnometer. Adjust to volume at 15.56.
Obtain specific gravity of distillate, and from table, 913.02 (see
Appendix C), obtain % alcohol by volume in distillate.
C. Calculation
% alcohol by volume in sample at 15.56 = D W/W
where D = % alcohol by volume in distillate at 15.56; W =
weight H 2O at 15.56 in 100 mL pycnometer; and W = weight
H 2O at 15.56 in 50 mL pycnometer.
References: Ind. Eng. Chem. Anal. Ed. 14, 237(1942). JAOAC
28, 88(1945); 41, 118(1958); 42, 329(1959); 53,
338(1970) .
CAS-64-17-5 (alcohol)
© AOAC INTERNATIONAL
*Adopted as a Codex Defining Method for pycnometry of residual al-
cohol in vinegar