Determination of free gossypol in cottonseed materials

Summary A method for the determination of free gossypol in cottonseed materials is described. The method consists of extraction of gossypol with a measured volume of 70% aqueous acetone on a shaker for one hour, filtration, and colorimetric analysis for gossypol in an aliquot of the filtrate by means of the reaction between gossypol andp-anisidine. The conditions for complete extraction of gossypol from various types of cottonseed materials have been investigated, the stability of gossypol in aqueous acetone has been demonstrated, and data are presented on recovery of gossypol added to cottonseed materials. The method has been compared with the method of Smith (2). One of the laboratories of the Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture.