New apparatus for rapid determination of carbon and hydrogen in organic compounds

Abstract

A new and simple type of apparatus in which a sample is burned explosively is proposed for the rapid determination of carbon and hydrogen in organic compounds. The development of the apparatus has been achieved with a special construction of an inclined combustion tube attached with a sample-boat guide-tube, and connecting the absorption train by means of spherical ground-glass joints and a modified holder. The analytical procedure with this apparatus is extremely simple and rapid. A sample of 2–10 mg is dropped into the combustion tube which has been heated at 800 °–850 °C and burned explosively. Combustion of the sample and the elimination of the resultant gas can be completed in 5 minutes at an oxygen flow-rate of 50 ml per minute. The total time required for an analysis is normally 20 minutes. This apparatus is applicable to the analysis of organic compounds containing halogen, sulfur, and nitrogen, as well as those that explode or sublimate. Accuracy of the analysis with this apparatus is comparable to that of conventional methods.