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A Convenient Apparatus for the Quantitative Estimation of Carbon Dioxide in a Carrier Stream
Author(s) -
Allison L. E.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1959.03615995002300040029x
Subject(s) - carbon dioxide , environmental science , estimation , environmental chemistry , chemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , systems engineering
A CONVENIENT APPARATUS FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN A CARRIER STREAM MANY soil and biological research laboratories have frequent occasion to measure the CO2 released during chemical or biological processes, for which the purifying and absorption assembly shown in figure 1 would serve a very useful purpose. With this equipment, a quantitative measure of evolved CO2 is obtained simply by weighing an absorption chamber before and after the test or experiment. The convenience and labor-saving qualities of this apparatus are obvious when compared to the conventional Truog tower system for absorbing CO2 which requires the use of standardized acid and alkali solutions, including the necessary precautions against contamination from CO2 of the air during titrations. The apparatus described here has been used for several years at the U. S. Salinity Laboratory for measuring CO2 in the analysis for soil organic carbon by wet combustion with chromic acid and also in the analyses of soils for carbonates. More recently, it has been used for determining the uronic carbon content of soils by the method of Le Fevre and Tollens as modified by Bartholomew and Norman. In this method CO2 is released by decarboxylation in the presence of boiling 12% HCl. This equipment can be assembled from low cost parts found in most laboratories, such as 25 X 90-mm. vials, 15-cm. calcium chloride U-tube, Nesbitt absorption bulb, gum rubber tubing, and neoprene stoppers. It provides a compact and easily handled unit of small internal volume that can be placed in any convenient position while in use, such as on the shelf of a chemical bench, and it can be stored in a small space when not in use. All connections are lubricated with silicone lubricant for ease in removing the traps for refilling. Note that the inflow tube in the H2SO4 trap is made from a 5-ml. pipet with a %-inch shank extending /& inch into the acid. Figure 1—Apparatus for the purification and absorption of CO2 in a carrier stream.