A Method for Detection and Determination of Carbon Monoxide in Coagulated Blood

Abstract

Summary.The method of the author for detection and determination of carbon monoxide in blood is modified for analysis of coagulated blood. The volume of the blood is measured in a graduated syringe, and the clot is finely crushed by squeezing the sample out through the syringe tip. It is delivered into Erlenmeyer flasks, and carbon monoxide is liberated by adding sulfuric acid. The flasks with blood acid mixture are connected by means of an airtight rubber cuff with other flasks. which contain a known solution of palladium chloride.The carbon monoxide passes into the palladium chloride, and a fine dark brown mirror of metallic palladium is seen after 5 to 30 minutes. The reduction of palladium chloride reaches a maximum after 3 hours when the flasks are rotated, 14 to 18 hours when they are left lying still. Excess of unreduced palladium chloride can be determined ideometrically, and the quantity of carbon monoxide present is calculated from the difference between original and excessive palladium chloride.The method can also be applied as an approximative one for detection and rough estimation of carbon monoxide, by observing the time elapsed from the addition of the sulfuric acid until the mirror of metallic palladium is visible, and by judging the solidity of the mirror.