1. This method is for the determination of total nitrogen in nitrate free calcium cyanamide.
2. Exclusively to calcium cyanamide (nitrate free).
3. After Kjeldahl digestion, the ammoniacal nitrogen formed is displaced by sodium hydroxide and collected in a standard solution of sulphuric acid. The excess sulphuric acid is titrated with a standard solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide.
4.—4.1 Sulphuric acid solution 50% (V/V): dilute an appropriate volume of sulphuric acid (d = 1.84 g/ml) with an equal volume of water.
4.2 Potassium sulphate.
4.3 Copper oxide (CuO)—0.3 to 0.4 g for each determination or an equivalent quantity of copper sulphate pentahydrate, from 0.95 to 1.25 g for each determination.
4.4 Sodium hydroxide solution, 30 g per 100 ml, ammonia free.
4.5 Sulphuric acid, 01. N solution. } for variant (a) (page 15)
4.6 Sodium or potassium hydroxide, o.1 N solution, carbonate free. } for variant (a) (page 15)
4.7 Sulphuric acid, 0.2 N solution. } for variant (b) (page 16) (see Note on page 15)
4.8 Sodium or potassium hydroxide, 0.2 N solution, carbonate free. } for variant (b) (page 16) (see Note on page 15)
4.9 Sulphuric acid, 0.5 N solution. } for variant (c) (page 16) (see Note on page 15)
4.10 Sodium or potassium hydroxide, 0.5 N solution, carbonate free. } for variant (c) (page 16) (see Note on page 15)
4.11 Indicator solutions:
4.11.1Solution A: dissolve 1 g methyl red in 37 ml 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution and make up to 1 litre with water.
Solution B: dissolve 1 g methylene blue in water and make up to 1 litre.
Mix 1 volume of A with 2 volumes of B.
This indicator is violet in acid solution, grey in neutral solution and green in alkaline solution.
Use 0.5 ml (10 drops).
4.11.2dissolve 0.1 g methyl red in 50 ml 95% ethanol and make up to 100 ml with water. Filter if necessary. This indicator (4 to 5 drops) may be used instead of the preceding one.
4.12 Anti-bump granules of pumice stone, washed in hydrochloric acid and ignited.
4.13 Potassium thiocyanate.
5.—5.1 Distillation apparatus. See Method 2.
6. See Method 1.
7.—7.1 Weigh to the nearest 0.001 g, 1 g of the prepared sample and place it in the Kjeldahl flask. Add 50 ml 50% sulphuric acid (4.1), 10-15 g potassium sulphate (4.2) and one of the prescribed catalysts (4.3). Heat slowly to drive off the water, boil gently for two hours, allow to cool, and dilute with 100-150 ml water. Cool again, transfer quantitatively the suspension to a 250 ml graduated flask, make up to volume with water, shake and filter through a dry filter into a dry flask.
7.2 According to the variant chosen (see Method 2) transfer with a pipette 50, 100 or 200 ml of the solution to the distillation apparatus and add sufficient sodium hydroxide solution (4.4) to ensure a considerable excess. Distil the ammonia and titrate the excess acid as described in Method 2.
7.3 Make a blank test (omitting only the sample ) under the same conditions and allow for this in the calculation of the final result.
7.4 Before carrying out the analysis, check that the apparatus is working properly and that the correct application of the method is used, using an aliquot part of a standard solution of potassium thiocyanate (4.13), approximating to the concentration of nitrogen in the sample.
8. Express the result as the percentage of nitrogen (N) contained in the fertiliser as received for analysis.
Variant (a): N% = (50 − A) × 0.7
Variant (b): N% = (50 − A) × 0.7
Variant (c): N% = (35 − A) × 0.875
Where A = millilitres of sodium or potassium hydroxide used for the titration.