Division 6.5 Place the dish containing the test portion and the glass rod in the oven and reduce the pressure to 3.3 kPa (34 mbar) or less. Dry at 70 ± 1 oC, allowing a slow stream of dry air to pass through the oven.

The drying operation should proceed for 20 hours; the bulk of the loss should occur towards the end of the first day. It will be necessary to keep the vacuum pump working at a preset pressure and allow a slow stream of dry air to enter the oven so as to maintain a pressure of approximately 3·3 kPa (34 mbar) or less during the night.