320 TOTAL NITROGEN AND CARBON - COMBUSTION METHOD
Fertility: N, C
Combustion gas analyzer method for total nitrogen and total carbon.
Summary: This analytical method quantitatively determines the total amount of nitrogen and carbon in all forms in soil, botanical, and miscellaneous materials using a dynamic flash combustion system coupled with a gas chromatographic (GC) separation system and a thermal conductivity detection (TCD) system. The analytical method is based on the complete and instantaneous oxidation of the sample by "flash combustion" which converts all organic and inorganic substances into combustion gases (N2, NOx, CO2, and H20). The method has a detection limit of 0.01% for carbon and 0.02% for nitrogen and is generally reproducible within 5% (relative).
Method 972.43. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 16th Edition (1997), AOAC International, Arlington, VA.