Dumas nitrogen determination techniques

The standard procedure of nitrogen determination by many laboratories is the Kjeldahl method (ASTM D-3179 ISO 333), although there are the standard methods that involve the Dumas technique (DIN 51722) and the gasification procedure (DIN 15722). Neutron activation analysis has also been proposed for the determination of nitrogen in coal, coal ash, and related products (Volborth, 1979a). 

The commonly used methods for the determination of total nitrogen involve variations of the Dumas or Kjeldahl techniques. The Dumas approach involves oxidation of the nitrogen to elemental or oxide form by combustion of the sample, reduction of nitrogen oxides, and determination of the elemental nitrogen. The Dumas oxidation is usually represented by the following example for acetanilide ... 

The determination of nitrogen in petroleum products is performed regularly by the Kjeldahl method (ASTM D3228), the Dumas method, and the microcoulomet-ric (ASTM D3431) method. The chemiluminescence method is the most recent technique applied to nibogen analysis for petroleum and is used to determine the amount of chemically bound nitrogen in liquid samples. 

Patterson, R. K. Automated Pregl-Dumas technique for determining total carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in atmospheric aerosols. Anal. Chem. 45 605-609, 1973. 

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