RAPID ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC-CARBON AND NITROGEN IN PARTICULATE MATERIALS

A method for rapid determination of organic carbon and nitrogen in nat ural particulate materials is described. The procedure allows the dete rmination of 60 samples per day by a single analyst. It involves the d etermination of carbon and nitrogen using an automatic CN-analyzer fol lowing the partitioning of inorganic and organic carbon phase by acidi fication with 25% HCI in situ within silver sample cups. The technique eliminates reweighing procedures, losses of organic and inorganic com pounds (except carbonates and sulphides) and is free from matrix inter ferences. Extensive testing and application showed long-term precision s for organic carbon and nitrogen of about 3%. The accuracy is excelle nt, irrespective of the calcium carbonate content of the sample.