A High-Temperature Catalytic Oxidation Technique for Determining Total Dissolved Nitrogen
Abstract
A high-temperature catalytic oxidation method for determination of total dissolved N has been developed and tested on soil solution and throughfall. Unlike methods generally used for total dissolved N, this method is rapid, quantitative, and does not require use of strong acids or bases. The technique couples a commercially available chemiluminescent N detector with the combustion furnace of a commercially available C analyzer. An aqueous sample is combusted in an ultra pure oxygen environment at 680°C, converting all forms of N to nitric oxide, which then reacts with ozone. The product, metastable NO2, is measured chemiluminescently by the N detector. The method is appropriate for samples collected in studies of forest soil solution and throughfall, having a method detection limit of 0.03 mg L−1 total N, and a range from 0.03 to 10.0 mg L−1. Tests of several organic and inorganic N-containing compounds showed recoveries >90% for concentrations up to 5.0 mg N L−1. Urea was the only compound tested with recoveries
Publication Date
7-1996
Journal Title
Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publisher
Soil Science Society of America
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000040013x
Scientific Contribution Number
1934
Document Type
Article
Rights
Copyright © . Soil Science Society of America.
Recommended Citation
Merriam, J., McDowell, W. H., Currie, W. S. A High-Temperature Catalytic Oxidation Technique for Determining Total Dissolved Nitrogen. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 1996. 60:1050–1055. doi:10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000040013x