A simple method for estimation of thiamine in foods using base-exchange on sand instead of Decalso.

Sea-sand obtained from two different areas (Madras and Bombay) in India showed that sand of 50-80 mesh from Madras had a satisfactory capacity to adsorb thiamine, and that the elution of the adsorbed vitamin was quantitative. With Bombay sand, however, the elution of the vitamin was not efficient. A few simple methods that can be used for testing sands from different areas for their efficacy as base-exchangers were described, and details were given of a method for the estimation of thiamine in cereals and legumes using sea-sand in place of Decalso for the removal of the interfering substances from the food extracts.