Determination of nitrogen in organic compounds by combustion in oxygen: Elimination of errors due to absorption of nitrogen oxides in copper oxide

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of nitrogen in organic compounds by combustion in oxygen. Excess oxygen is absorbed by heated copper. The retention of nitrogen by copper oxide, leading to low results, is overcome by reducing the copper oxide with benzene, thereby liberating absorbed nitrogen as the elemental gas. The method is particularly useful for the analysis of substances such as poly-nitro compounds which give off large amounts of nitrogen dioxide during pyrolysis.