Australia's Science Forum

We have just acquired a heap of glassware from a dairy research facility. I have some "ash tubes" which are 50ml glass containers. Basically look like the bottom of a measuring cylinder. 58mm high and 35mm diameter. No thread. Does anyone know their purpose? I googled it and got golf accessories.

can you post a picture

Will get one in soon. Thanks.

Hi There,

In the diary industry you have to test for total % solids and in the old method you would have to burn off the liquid.
You place a known quantity and then burn it off, remaining is ash type substance. Hence ash Tubes.
Now days they have a chemical analyzer which will suck up the liquid and print out a % solid, %fat and % solids non fat etc and a heap more data.

Hope this helps.
cheers

Thanks that clears that question up.