Assay
Weigh and finely powder not less than 20 Tablets. Weigh accurately a portion of the powder, equivalent to about 500 mg of methylcellulose, and transfer to a tared, fine fritted-glass, low-form, 30-mL crucible having a fitted crucible lid. Add 20 mL of alcohol, and macerate the solid for about 5 minutes, mixing intermittently with a glass stirring rod. Repeat the extraction with ten consecutive 10-mL portions of alcohol. Test for completeness of extraction by evaporating the last alcohol extract on a steam bath to dryness, taking up the residue in about 1 mL of water, and adding this to 5 mL of hot alkaline cupric tartrate TS (no red precipitate of cuprous oxide is formed within 5 minutes). If a precipitate is formed, continue with the alcohol extractions until the test is negative. Wash the completely extracted residue with a 10-mL portion of ether, using suction to drain off the liquid. Dry the residue in the crucible in a drying oven at 105
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to constant weight. Weigh the crucible with the crucible lid in place. The weight of residue is the weight of methylcellulose present in the portion of powdered Tablets taken.