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Rapid direct determination of organic carbon and nitrogen in carbonate‐bearing sediments with a Yanaco MT‐5 CHN analyzer
Author(s) -
Yamamuro Masumi,
Kayanne Hajime
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1995.40.5.1001
Subject(s) - carbonate , total organic carbon , organic matter , dissolution , nitrogen , chemistry , environmental chemistry , mineralogy , carbon fibers , materials science , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material
A rapid technique is presented for measuring organic C and N in carbonate‐bearing sediments. Organic C and N were determined with a Yanaco MT‐5 CHN analyzer after removing carbonate by acidification of samples in ceramic sample boats with HCl vapor. This procedure eliminates loss of acid‐soluble organic matter during carbonate dissolution. The accuracy of this new technique and two earlier methods of determining organic C and N concentrations was verified with standard chemicals and carbonate‐bearing sediments (> 80 wt% CaCO 3 ). With the new technique there was no contamination or loss of organic C and N. The method is suitable for acidifying sediments with a wide range of carbonate content.