The determination of carbon in copper

According to Fischer and Schmidt (41) electrolytic copper contains less than 5 ng/g carbon and copper alloys up to ten times more, depending on the type of alloy. 

According to Fischer and Schmidt (41) copper burns without problems in a tube furnace in a moistened oxygen stream at 1100 to 1150°C. Working with covered combustion boats is recommended because of the aggressivity of the resulting copper oxide slag. Samples of several grams can be used without difficulty. 

The procedure is described in detail under the determination of carbon in aluminium (8). 

Oxidizing fusion has also been used successfully to determine carbon in copper. 

Sever and Floe (42) analyze the sample in a vacuum apparatus. The sample is heated by induction in a copper bath (ca. 60 g Cu + 4 to 5 g CuO) to a temperature of 1400°C. Carbon is oxidized to carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. After oxidation with copper oxide and drying with magnesium perchlorate, carbon dioxide is determined volumetrically by absorption on ascarite. 

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The determination of carbon in copper can be carried out without difficulties provided that the blank value is determined accurately and that the surface of the sample is correctly treated before analysis. 

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