[Determination of densities of mineral drugs and their calcined products by sealing wax densimetry].
OBJECTIVE
To determine densities of mineral drugs and their calcined products by using sealing wax densimetry, and to establish the testing method of crispness for calcined traditional Chinese medicine.


METHODS
Taking density as detection indicator, the accuracies of mineral drugs and their calcined products were investigated by sealing wax densimetry compared with direct densimetry, and the method of density determination was optimized.


RESULTS
The density values measured by two methods investigated above were significantly different (P < 0.01), the density values of Pyritum, Haematitum, calcined Pyritum and calcined Haematitum measured by direct densimetry were increased 1.66%, 9.43%, 96.72% and 9.02%, respectively compared with that measured by sealing wax densimetry.


CONCLUSIONS
Sealing wax densimetry is suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products with its high accuracy, whereas direct densimetry'is not suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products.
Wang
Hongbin
H
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China. hongbin116@yahoo.com.cn
Xiao
Jieming
J
Cai
Hao
H
Cai
Baochang
B
D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014885:Waxes
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014885:Waxes