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Other Quantifiable Tests for Testing the Quality and Purity of Essential
Other Quantifiable Tests for Testing the Quality and Purity of Essential Oils
Other tests may be used upon an essential
oils. The most commonly used tests after Gas Chromatography and
Mass Spectrometry are Refractive Index and Specific Gravity. The
results of these tests are sometimes provided upon the oil's MSDS
(Material Safety Data Sheet).
Measured by a refractrometer,
the refractive index of an essential oil is a unique number that
designates how the oil responds and bends light. Essentially, it
is a measurement that tests how the speed of light is altered when
passing through the oil. An oil's refractive index can be compared
to that of a reliable sample.
Measured using a densitometer,
the specific gravity of an essential oil is a unique number that
measures the density of a particular oil in comparison with the
density of water. Specific gravity readings are measured at precise
temperatures and pressures as temperature and pressure can impact
the measurements. Particular oils have known ranges of specific
gravity in which the oil is considered to be unadulterated and pure.
Of course, an essential oil distilled from an inferior harvest or
improperly distilled can also lead to specific gravity readings
outside the norm.
Other possible tests that may be conducted upon essential oils include
- Optical Rotation
- Acid Value
- Infrared Spectroscopy
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