Densitometric determination of the fat content of milk and milk products

An automatable method for determining the fat content of milk and milk products was developed using a precise densitometer based on the principle of the resonant frequency U-tube oscillation. The sample is first decomposed with hydrochloric acid and the fat extracted with hexane. The density of the fat/hexane solution obtained varies with the fat content of the sample. Milk, cream and cheese samples were analysed. The mean values from the densitometric determination of the fat content did not differ from the mean values obtained by the corresponding gravimetric reference methods. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.