The Kjeldahl Practice Guide From BUCHI
The Kjeldahl Practice Guide From BUCHI
At the time when Johan Kjeldahl published his method for the determination of nitrogen
in 1883 the electric lamp was just patented and the technical age in its childhood. Seldom in
human history has an invention remained basically unchanged for such a long time as Kjeldahl’s
method for nitrogen determination.
As in 1883 a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination starts with sample preparation, proceeds to the
digestion followed by separation using steam distillation and subsequent volumetric determina-
tion of the amount of ammonia formed in the process.
Kjeldahl’s visionary idea of providing a simple method for nitrogen and protein determinations,
which can also be carried out by non-academic lab personnel, has been put into practice by
BUCHI’s Kjeldahl systems since 1961.
With this short guide BUCHI wants to support you in your daily work not only by provi-
ding high quality instrumentation but also offering theoretical background information
and useful tables for your daily routine. The laminated tables can be taken out of the guide to
be placed at the locations in the lab where they are needed.
For more detailed information please refer to the BUCHI Kjeldahl Guide.
www.buchi.com/kjeldahl/en/applications/literature
In addition to this short guide you can find detailed information including our
application database at: www.buchi.com/kjeldahl/applications
And to download BUCHI’s practical tablet guide or Kjeldahl calculator for iOS,
Android and Windows Phone 7: www.buchi.com/kjeldahl/apps
2
The Kjeldahl Process
From sample preparation to result calculation
3
Sample preparation
Sample tube selection and weight
Micro
Sample weight < 0.2 g
Sample volume 2 – 3 mL
H2SO4 2 – 5 mL
Kjeldahl Tablets 1 (Micro)
Recommendation Homogeneous samples high in nitrogen/protein
Reduction of chemicals by 80 % compared to 300 mL
Benefit
tubes
300 mL
Sample weight 0.1 – 5 g
Sample volume < 200 mL
H2SO4 5 – 30 mL
Kjeldahl Tablets 2
Recommendation Standard tube for most applications
Benefit All-round sample tube
500 mL
Sample weight >4g
Sample volume < 400 mL
H2SO4 > 10 mL
Kjeldahl Tablets 2
Especially for high sample volumes or strongly foaming
Recommendation
samples
Benefit Problem-free digestion of strongly foaming samples
4
Sample preparation
Weighing
preparation
▶ the higher the N-content, the lower the weight can be
Sample
∙∙ The Homogeneity of the sample
▶ By increasing the sample amount the impact of the grain size is reduced
▶ Example: homogeneous samples < 1 g, inhomogeneous samples > 2 g
5
Sample preparation
Usage of the weighing table
6
Sample preparation
Addition of chemicals and Kjeldahl Tablets
preparation
∙∙ Kjeldahl Tablets: frequent practice 2 pieces per sample tube
Sample
The aim of the Kjeldahl Tablets is the acceleration of the digestion process
by means of:
∙∙ catalysis by metal salts
∙∙ raising the boiling point of the H2SO4 by sulfate salts (K 2SO4)
For more demanding samples or samples that are high in fat or carbohydrate see
page 10.
7
Sample preparation
Weighing table for solid and liquid samples
Solid samples
Sample: weight [g] Titrant concentration [N]
5 2 1 0.5 0.125 0.01 0.05 0.1 0.5
N [mg] N [%] Titrant consumption sample [mL]
0.5 0.01 0.03 0.05 0.10 0.40 3.6
2.0 0.04 0.10 0.20 0.40 1.60 14.3 2.9
2.5 0.05 0.13 0.25 0.50 2.00 3.6 1.8
7.0 0.14 0.35 0.70 1.40 5.60 10.0 5.0
10.0 0.20 0.50 1.00 2.00 8.00 14.3 7.1 1.4
50.0 1.00 2.50 5.00 10.00 40.00 7.1
100.0 2.00 5.00 10.00 20.00 80.00 14.3
Procedure:
A: Select N % of sample
B: select titrant concentration
C: Choose weight in order that the titrant consumption can be expected
between 3 and 17 mL
Liquid samples
Sample Titrant
[mL] N [%] N mg/L Titrant [N]
4 0.1 – 0.6 0.10
6 0.06 – 0.4 0.10
10 100 – 200 0.01
25 50 – 100 0.01
50 20 – 50 0.01
100 10 – 20 0.01
250 5 – 10 0.01
400 <5 0.01
8
Sample preparation
Kjeldahl Tablets overview
9
Sample preparation
Amount of sulfuric acid
4. Remaining volume
= amount of used Kjeldahl Tablet (e.g. 10 g Kjeldahl tablets = 10 mL H2SO4)
H2SO4 volume =
conversion + (total consumption by org. matter) + evaporation + remaining volume
10
The digestion
Hints
Condensation zone
Digestion
∙∙ Optimal conditions are achieved when the condensation zone remains 5 cm below the constric-
tion of the sample tube.
∙∙ For foaming samples one Kjeldahl Tablet «Antifoam» or stearic acid can be used.
∙∙ When samples crystalize despite optimal H2SO4/catalyst ratio ▶ the suction power of the
Scrubber should be reduced.
∙∙ Boiling rods can in contrast to boiling stones, also be used for the following automated analysis
via the KjelSampler.
∙∙ Slowly increasing the digestion temperature reduces foam formation of problematic samples.
11
Digestion
Digestion parameter: SpeedDigester (IR)
can increase
50 25
60 50
80 100
135 250
Time [min] 185 400
Cooling 30
1)
The digestion time depends on the sample volume
The sample is heated to boil as fast Standard Kjeldahl using 300 mL sample tube
as possible.
Step Temp. [°C] Level Time [min]
The sample is kept
constantly boiling. Preheating 480 8.5
Digestion 480 8.5 10
Temp. [°C]
550 9.5 10
490 8.5 65
█ T nominal
█ T sample Cooling 30
Time [min]
The sample is heated to boil as fast Micro Kjeldahl using 100 mL sample tubes
as possible.
Due to the low volume used Step Temp. [°C] Level Time [min]
for micro-Kjeldahl lower
temperatures are required Preheating 480 8.5
(480 compared to 490°C) to
Digestion 480 8.5 10
Temp. [°C]
Time [min]
12
Digestion
Digestion parameter: KjelDigester (only 300 mL tubes)
420 105
█ T nominal
Cooling 35
█ T sample
Time [min]
Cooling 25
█ T nominal
█ T sample
Time [min]
13
Digestion
Highest sample throughput
65 min
120
cooling
cooling
cooling
cooling
cooling
KjelDigester K-449
14
Distillation
Overview
General overview
Distillation
15
Distillation
Parameter for boric acid titration
For the following analysis potentiometric as well as colorimetric titration can be chosen.
16
Distillation
Parameter for back titration
17
Distillation
Hints
∙∙ After digestion the samples must cool-down to 50 – 100 °C before they can be further pro-
cessed.
∙∙ For very low N-contents 2 % H3BO3 with KCI (3 g/L) should be chosen as receiving solution,
to achieve lower detection limits.
∙∙ With the «IntelliDist» function of the KjelMaster preheating of the instrument can be avoided.
∙∙ Waste from the sample tube and the receiver can be collected separately with the
KjelMaster.
18
Titration
Overview of the different combination possibilities
Startpoint pH
Back titration
Endpoint pH
Setpoint mV
Fixed time
Boric acid
Standard
IntelliDist
Optimal
titration
Normal
Online
Potentiometric • • • • • • • • • •
Colorimetric • • • • • • •
Advantage Disadvantage
Potentiometric: direct pH measurement
Lower detection limit / back titration possible / calibration of sensor required / 6 – 12 months
„IntelliDist“ possible lifetime of electrode
Titration
easier monitoring
Online: the titration takes place whilst the distillation is still in progress
Time saving: Synchronizes distillation and titration Not useful for low titration volumes (> 9 mL)
Endpoint
Fixed and known pH pH of boric acid must be adjusted to 4.65
Startpoint
Exact adjustment of pH not needed More boric acid required (compared to end-
(pH must be between 4.4 and 5.0) point titration), to detect the startpoint
Start volume
Huge time saving, higher sample throughput Only for well-known titration volume
19
Titration
Endpoint and Startpoint titration (potentiometric)
Endpoint titration
Endpoint titration
20
Titration
Setpoint titration (Colorimetric)
Setpoint titration
21
Titration
Hints
B(OH)3 + 2 H2O
Sher Indicator
Endpoint pH 4.65
B(OH)4– + H3O+
∙∙ For endpoint and colorimetric titration the pH of the boric acid must be adjusted to 4.65.
∙∙ Back titration can be used when boric acid should be avoided (for potentiometric titration only).
∙∙ For well-known samples a start volume for titration might be used to accelerate the titration step.
(only useful for high titration volumes)
∙∙ The distillation and titration process can be synchronized, by means of online titration.
22
Result calculation
Hints
∙∙ The PC software KjelLink facilitates error-free sample data editing. In addition, the results can be trans-
ferred to a PC for printing or if necessary for recalculation.
∙∙ To determine the optimal method parameters, the BUCHI App Kjeldahl Optimizer can be used as a
helpful tool.
Result
% N: % of weight of N
% P: % of weight of protein
23
www.buchi.com/kjeldahl/applications
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