Cubis® II: Loss on Drying
Last updated: May 2020
Overview
Loss on Drying is a back-weighing application used to determine the amount of volatile matter present in tablets, capsules or bulky material. Samples are weighed before and after treatment and the difference in weight is measured.
According to USP the “dry to constant weight,” or according to European Pharmacopoeia (PhEur) the “dried to constant mass” or “ignited to constant mass” weight value of pharmaceutical products is to be measured. The USP defines that two consecutive weighings must not differ by more than 0.50 mg per g of sample, whereas the PhEur specifies that two consecutive weighings must not differ by more than 0.5 mg in total to consider the sample as dried to constant weight or mass.
In the Cubis® II application, the administrator selects between the test procedure according to USP or PhEur, and the sample type - tablet or capsule. Due to the different definition of allowed weight difference, the selection determines the mode, or how the software application considers samples to have passed or failed the test.
- Document type: Application Highlight
- Page count: 5
- Read time: 5 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Loss on Drying is a back-weighing application on Cubis® II balances that streamlines the back-weighing process
- It automatically evaluates results according to USP or PhEur standards
- The Loss on Drying application provides comprehensive reports and direct user feedback on out-of-limit results
This Resource is Designed for:
- Lab Managers
- Lab Technicians
- Scientists
- Lab Assistants
- Quality Control Managers
- Pharmaceutical Industry Professionals
- Compliance Experts
- Pharmacology
Applications Supported:
- Cubis® II Balances
- Loss on Drying
- Drying to Constant Mass or Weight
- Determination of Dry Weight in Tablets and Capsules
- USP Chapter <731>
- PhEur Chapter General Notices 1
Frequently Asked Questions
The Karl Fischer titration method determines only sample’s water content. This may include water from crystallization and surface absorption but does not factor in any other substances. Loss on drying also factors in the presence of volatile impurities.
Substances to be compounded and used in prescriptions must not only be free of impurities, but also be measured with precision. The nature of all involved substances must be known exactly.
