Ground Limestone
DEFINITION
Ground Limestone is a fine, white to off-white, microcrystalline powder mainly consisting of calcium carbonate. It is obtained by crushing, grinding, and classifying naturally occurring limestone, benefited by flotation and/or air classification. After drying at 200
for 4 h, it contains NLT 94.0% and NMT 100.5% of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
for 4 h, it contains NLT 94.0% and NMT 100.5% of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).IDENTIFICATION
• A. Identification Tests—General, Calcium 
191
191
Analysis:
Add acetic acid to the Ground Limstone, and boil the resulting solution.
Acceptance criteria:
The solution produces effervescence (presence of carbonate) after the addition of acetic acid. After boiling, it meets the requirements in the chapter.
• B. Acid-Insoluble Substances:
It meets the requirements in the test for Acid-Insoluble Substances.
ASSAY
• Procedure
Sample:
200 mg of Ground Limestone, previously dried at 200 for 4 h
for 4 h
Blank:
Proceed as directed in the Analysis, except omit the test specimen.
Titrimetric system
(See Titrimetry 541.)
541.)
Mode:
Direct titration
Titrant:
0.05 M edetate disodium VS
Endpoint detection:
Visual
Analysis:
Transfer the Sample to a 250-mL beaker. Moisten thoroughly with a few mL of water, and add, dropwise, sufficient 3 N hydrochloric acid to dissolve. Add 100 mL of water, 15 mL of 1 N sodium hydroxide, and 300 mg of hydroxy naphthol blue, and titrate with the Titrant until the solution is a distinct blue color. Perform a Blank determination.
Calculate the percentage of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the Sample taken:
Result = {[(VS 
VB) × M × F]/W} × 100
VB) × M × F]/W} × 100| VS | = | = Titrant volume consumed by the Sample (mL) |
| VB | = | = Titrant volume consumed by the Blank (mL) |
| M | = | = actual molarity of the Titrant (mM/mL) |
| F | = | = equivalency factor, 100.1 mg/mM |
| W | = | = Sample weight (mg) |
Acceptance criteria:
94.0%–100.5%
IMPURITIES
• Arsenic, Method I 211
211
Test preparation:
Slowly dissolve 1.0 g in 15 mL of hydrochloric acid, and dilute with water to 55 mL.
Analysis:
Proceed as directed in the chapter, except omit the addition of 20 mL of 7 N sulfuric acid.
Acceptance criteria:
It meets the requirements in the chapter (NMT 3 ppm).
• Lead 251
251
Test preparation:
Mix 1.0 g with 5 mL of water, slowly add 8 mL of 3 N hydrochloric acid, evaporate on a steam bath to dryness, and dissolve the residue in 5 mL of water.
Acceptance criteria:
NMT 3 ppm
• Heavy Metals 231
231
Test preparation:
Mix 1.0 g with 5 mL of water, slowly add 8 mL of 3 N hydrochloric acid, and evaporate on a steam bath to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 20 mL of water, filter, and add water to the filtrate to make 25 mL.
Acceptance criteria:
NMT 20 ppm
• Limit of Magnesium and Alkali Salts
Sample:
1.0 g
Analysis:
Mix the Sample with 40 mL of water. Carefully add 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, heat the solution, and boil for 1 min. Rapidly add 40 mL of oxalic acid TS, and stir vigorously until precipitation is well established. Add immediately to the warm mixture 2 drops of methyl red TS and then 6 N ammonium hydroxide, dropwise, until the mixture is just alkaline. Cool to room temperature. Transfer to a 100-mL graduated cylinder, dilute with water to 100 mL, mix, and allow to stand for 4 h or overnight. Filter, and to 50 mL of the clear filtrate in a platinum dish add 0.5 mL of sulfuric acid, and evaporate the mixture on a steam bath to a small volume. Carefully heat over a free flame to dryness, and continue heating to complete decomposition and volatilization of ammonium salts. Ignite the residue to constant weight.
Acceptance criteria:
NMT 3.5%. The weight of the residue is NMT 17.5 mg.
• Limit of Fluoride
[Note—Prepare and store all solutions in plastic containers. ]
Buffer solution:
294 mg/mL of sodium citrate dihydrate in water
Standard stock solution:
1.1052 mg/mL of USP Sodium Fluoride RS in water
Standard solution:
Transfer 20.0 mL of Standard stock solution to a 100-mL volumetric flask containing 50.0 mL of Buffer solution, dilute with water to volume, and mix. Each mL of Standard solution contains 100 µg of fluoride ion.
Sample solution:
Transfer 2.0 g of Ground Limestone to a beaker containing a plastic-coated stirring bar. Add 20 mL of water and 4.0 mL of hydrochloric acid, and stir until dissolved. Add 50.0 mL of Buffer solution and sufficient water to make 100 mL.
Electrode system:
Use a fluoride-specific ion-indicating electrode and a silver–silver chloride reference electrode connected to a pH meter capable of measuring potentials with a minimum reproducibility of ± 0.2 mV (see pH 791).
791).
Analysis
Samples:
Standard solution and Sample solution
Standard response line:
Transfer 50.0 mL of Buffer solution and 4.0 mL of hydrochloric acid to a beaker, and add water to make 100 mL. Add a plastic-coated stirring bar, insert the electrodes into the solution, stir for 15 min, and read the potential, in mV. Continue stirring, and at 5-min intervals add 100, 100, 300, and 500 µL of Standard solution, reading the potential 5 min after each addition. Plot the logarithms of the cumulative fluoride ion concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 µg/mL) versus potential, in mV.
Rinse and dry the electrodes, insert them into the Sample solution, stir for 5 min, and read the potential, in mV. From the measured potential and the Standard response line determine the concentration, C (in µg/mL), of fluoride ion in the Sample solution.
Calculate the content of fluoride in the portion of Ground Limestone taken:
Result = (C × V)/W
| C | = | = concentration of fluoride ion, obtained from the Standard response line, in the Sample solution (µg/mL) |
| V | = | = volume of the Sample solution (mL) |
| W | = | = weight of Ground Limestone taken to prepare the Sample solution (g) |
Acceptance criteria:
NMT 50 ppm
SPECIFIC TESTS
• Acid-Insoluble Substances
Sample:
5.0 g
Analysis:
Mix the Sample with 25 mL of water. Add 25 mL of hydrochloric acid, dropwise, with agitation, until it ceases to cause effervescence. Add water to make the mixture measure 200 mL, and filter. Wash the insoluble residue with water until the last washing shows no chloride, and ignite and weigh the residue.
Acceptance criteria:
0.2%–2.5%. The weight of the residue is between 10 and 125 mg.
• Loss on Drying 731:
Dry a sample at 200 for 4 h: it loses NMT 2.0% of its weight.
731:
Dry a sample at 200 for 4 h: it loses NMT 2.0% of its weight.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Packaging and Storage:
Preserve in well-closed containers.
• USP Reference Standards 11
11
USP Sodium Fluoride RS
Auxiliary Information—
Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
| Topic/Question | Contact | Expert Committee |
|---|---|---|
| Monograph | Huy T. Dinh, M.S.
Scientific Liaison 1-301-816-8594 |
(DS2010) Monographs - Dietary Supplements |
| Reference Standards | RS Technical Services 1-301-816-8129 rstech@usp.org |
USP35–NF30 Page 1364
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 34(4) Page 998