Infrared macro and semimicro determination of nitrogen in raw nitrocellulose and nitrocellulose contained in propellants

The infrared procedure for the determination of nitrogen in raw nitrocellulose has been improved. In the original method 0.31-0.32 g of sample was dissolved in 45 ml of tetrahydrofuran, the solution was weighed, and the infrared peak at 6.0 microm was measured. The calibration curve was prepared by plotting absorbance against mg of nitrogen per g of solution. The method has the disadvantage that the height of the peak is affected by the sample weight. In the improved method the error due to the sample weight is eliminated by using 0.3000 g of sample and diluting to 50 ml in a volumetric flask. The calibration curve is prepared by plotting absorbance against % nitrogen. The method was extended to the semimicro scale by using a 30.0-mg sample and diluting to 5 ml in a volumetric flask. The method has been applied on the macro and semimicro scales to the direct determination of nitrogen in nitrocellulose after a methylene chloride extraction. The amounts of graphite and inorganic salts found in nitrocellulose-base propellants do not interfere, but a correction must be made to refer the results to 0.3000 g of nitrocellulose for the macro method or 30.0 mg of nitrocellulose for the semimicro method. The same calibration curve is used for all procedures.     

Comparative investigation of some methods for the determination of the nitrogen content of nitrocellulose

A comparison has been made between the methods used in various European countries for the determination of the nitrogen content of nitrocellulose. The results show that the method according to Schlösing is preferable.     

A reproducible method for determination of nitrocellulose in soil

A reproducible analytical method for determination of nitrocellulose in soil is described. The new method provides the precision and accuracy needed for quantitation of nitrocellulose in soils to enable worker safety on contaminated sites. The method utilizes water and ethanol washes to remove co-contaminants, acetone extraction of nitrocellulose, and base hydrolysis of the extract to reduce nitrate groups. The hydrolysate is then neutralized and analyzed by ion chromatography for determination of free nitrate and nitrite. A variety of bases for hydrolysis and acids for neutralization were evaluated, with 5N sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide giving the most complete hydrolysis and interference-free neutralization, respectively. The concentration of nitrocellulose in the soil is calculated from the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite and the weight percentage of nitrogen content in nitrocellulose. The laboratory detection limit for the analysis is 10mg/kg. The method acceptance range for recovery of nitrocellulose from control samples is 78-105%.     

The determination of nitrogen in copper-titanium alloys

An experimental program on the casting of copper-titanium alloys is being conducted in this laboratory. It was suspected that nitrogen was absorbed from the atmosphere during these casting operations and possibly caused embrittlement of these alloys. An accurate means of determining nitrogen in copper-titanium alloys was therefore necessary. A rapid and accurate method is proposed for determining nitrogen in copper-titanium alloys which is satisfactory for quantities of nitrogen as low as 0.01 per cent. In the development of the procedure, a study was made of possible digestion solutions. A moderately concentrated solution of perchloric acid was found to be most practical for decomposing the sample. When solution of the sample is completed, the mixture is transferred to the flask of a micro-Kjeldahl dihtillation apparatus. Sodium hydroxide is added until the solution is distinctly alkaline, and the liberated ammonia is steam distilled into a solution of boric acid and titiated with standard acid.     

The determination of nitrogen trichloride in liquid chlorine

Methods are described for the determination of nitrogen trichloride over the range of concentrations at which it exists in chlorine manufacture and handling. The methods are based on the conversion of nitrogen trichloride to ammonium chloride by hydrochloric acid and the determination of ammonium by spectrophotometry as the indophenol complex or by potentiometry with an ammonia gas-sensing electrode; higher levels of nitrogen trichloride are determined by titration. For liquid chlorine, a sample is taken in a refrigerated trap containing hydrochloric acid. After that, the chlorine is slowly evaporated at atmospheric pressure. Results of tests are given to prove the reliability of the methods.     

The determination of total nitrogen in plant materials with an automatic nitrogen analyser

An automatic analyser is used for the measurement of total nitrogen in chemical compounds and botanical material after the combustion method of Dumas in vacuum. The analyser is described and results for several chemical compounds and plant materials are given. The results have been statistically evaluated to compare the reproducibility and accuracy of the automatic analyser and the Kjeldahl method.     

The determination of nitrogen in metals by isotope dilution

A wet chemical procedure for determining the amount of nitrogen in a metal or alloy has been developed which utilizes the isotope dilution technique. Ammonium sulfate, either enriched or depleted in ¹⁵N, is added to the metal sample during solution procedures. Ammonium ions resulting from the hydrolysis of bound nitrogen in the metals mix with that of the tracer and the total is then oxidized to N₂ in which form the element is analyzed in the mass spectrometer. The method has been tested on a variety of metals and alloys including thorium, lanthanum, yttrium, titanium, chromium, manganese, various steels, nickel-chromium, ferrotitaniuin, ferromanganese and ferrochromium. The range of nitrogen in these materials was from -2 ppm to almost 6%. Average precision was generally better than ± 5%.     

The determination of nitrogen in steels by deuteron bombardment

The measurement of prompt particles from reactions induced by 1.2 MeV deuterons on nitrogen can serve as a rapid method for determining nitrogen in steels in ppm range. With suitable absorbers the energy of the prompt alpha-particles can be reduced to that of the prompt protons and counts from both be integrated over a single energy region. Analyses require between 2 and 100 min. Interference from boron and silicon is discussed.     

The determination of microgram quantities of organic nitrogen

A method is descriibed for the determination of microgram quantities of nitrogen in a wide variety of materials. This method involves the Kjeldahl procedure for the conversion of nitrogen to ammonium or amine sulphate. Digestion of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and catalyst, and, if necessary, pretreatment with hydriodic acid and red phosphorus, are followed by steam-distillation into a dilute acid solution. The final determination depends on the reaction of ammonia, in a suitably buffered solution, with sodium hypobromite reagent, and measurement of the excess reagent by titration of the iodine liberated by it from acidified potassium iodide, with a standard $\text{N}\text{500}$ sodium thiosulphate solution, using sodium starch glycollate indicator.Since sample size is relatively unrestricted and the final titration can measure 5 micrograms of nitrogen, the sensitivity of the method is very high.Reference is made to existing sub-micro methodes which, although sensitive, are time-consuming and specific in application.     

The determination of nitrogen in zirconium by charged-particle activation analysis

Summary The determination of nitrogen in zirconium by charged-particle activation analysis is described. The¹⁴N(,n)¹³N and the¹⁴N(p,)¹¹C reactions were used. The¹³N activity was separated from matrix activity as ammonia by steam-distillation after dissolution of the sample in dilute hydrofluoric acid. The¹¹C activity was separated as carbon dioxide by dissolution of the sample in a mixture of concentrated sulphuric acid, sodium fluoride and potassium periodate, followed by oxidation of the evolved gases with a copper oxideiron oxide-kaolin mixture and trapping of the carbon dioxide in dilute sodium hydroxide solution. The chemical yield of both separations was investigated. The nuclear interference of boron can be neglected, in view of the low boron content. Alpha- and proton-activation yielded the following results for BCR reference materials (alpha-activation results first): CRM 21: 24.6±3.3 and 25.9±0.8g/g (certified value: 26.4±2.5g/g); CRM 56: 12.0±1.1 and 10.5±0.3g/g (certified value: 11.7±1.7g/g); CRM 57: 11.2±0.3g/g (alpha-activation) (certified value: 11.9±1.8g/g).

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Die Bestimmung von Stickstoff in Zirkonium durch Aktivierungsanalyse mit geladenen Teilchen

Zusammenfassung Folgende Kernreaktionen wurden angewendet:¹⁴N(,n)¹³N und¹⁴N(p,)¹¹C. Nach dem Auflösen der Probe in verdünnter Flußsäure wurde die¹³N-Aktivität als Ammoniak durch Wasserdampfdestillation von der Aktivität der Matrix abgetrennt. Die¹¹C-Aktivität wurde als Kohlendioxid abgetrennt. Nach dem Auflösen der Probe in einer Mischung aus konzentrierter Schwefelsäure, Natriumfluorid und Kaliumperjodat wurden die entstehenden Gase durch eine Mischung aus Kupferoxid-Eisenoxid-Kaolin oxydiert. Dann folgte die Absorption von Kohlendioxid in verdünnter Natronlauge. Die chemische Ausbeute beider Trennungen wurde untersucht. Der Borgehalt in den Proben ist so klein, daß eine Störreaktion von Bor zu vernachlässigen ist. Folgende Ergebnisse wurden mit einigen BCR-Referenzproben mit Alpha- und Protonenaktivierung erhalten: CRM 21: 24,6 ± 3,3 und 25,9 ± 0,8g/g (gesicherter Wert: 26,4 ± 2,5g/g) CRM 56: 12,0 ± 1,1 und 10,5 ± 0,3g/g (gesicherter Wert: 11,7 ± 1,7g/g) CRM 57: 11,2 ± 0,3g/g (Alpha-Aktivierung) (gesicherter Wert: 11,9 ±1,8g/g)

     

The viscosities of dilute solutions of nitrocellulose

The viscosities of dilute solutions (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g. per 100 ml.) of relatively high nitrogen content nitrocelluloses, weight-average molecular weights ca. 100,000, have been studied using homologous series of methyl ketones, alkyl acetates, and dialkyl phthalates as solvents. The simple form of the Huggins equation, does not appear to hold, plots of η_sp/c against c being generally curved. The results are capable of expression by where A equals [η] and B the initial slope. Values of B and A appear to be related to solvent power as determined by the volume of hexane required to cause initial phase separation from solution, good solvents giving higher values of B and A than poor. The variation of B with solvent is more marked than that of [η] and may reflect differences in degree of coiling of chains in different solvents. Values of B/[η]² (Huggins k′) do not generally decrease with solvent power increase. The slopes of Martin plots divided by intrinsic viscosities are not generally related to solvent power in the manner observed by Spurlin with solutions of ethyl cellulose.     

Rapid determination of nitrate nitrogen in soils

A simple but effective method for pretreatment of soil samples is suggested. The application of an electrodynamic vibrator or ultrasonic device eliminates the necessity for continuous stirring in direct potentiometric determination of nitrate nitrogen. It also makes the extraction process faster, and the apparatus could easily be used in automatic systems for continuous soil control.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nitrogen dioxide in air

Summary A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of nitrogen dioxide, after fixing it as nitrite in alkaline sodium arsenite solution, is described. The reaction is based on the diazo-coupling of p-nitroaniline with chromotrophic acid in acetate medium (pH 6±0.5). The azo dye formed has its absorption maximum at 515 nm, with a molar absorptivity of 3.7×10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0–20 g of nitrite. The relative standard deviation is 2.5% for ten determinations of 10 g of nitrite. The effect of interfering gases and ions on the determination is discussed. The method has been applied to the determination of residual nitrogen dioxide in a laboratory fume cupboard and the results are compared with those obtained by the widely used sulphanilamide — NEDA method. Down to 0.5 g of nitrite can be determined.     

Gasometric determination of nitrogen in organic substances

Summary A modification of the Dumas-Pregle micromethod has been developed, permitting the determination of nitrogen in simple and difficultly liquefied organic compounds, thanks to me use of preliminary pyrolysis for decomposing the sample. The accuracy of the method is 0.1–0.2%. Duration of the determination is 20–25 min.The work was begun under the supervision of M. O. Korshun.     

The determination of bound nitrogen in uranium hexafluoride with an ammonia electrode

Uranium hexafluoride reacts with nitrosyl fluoride (NOF), nitryl fluoride (NO₂F), and nitrogen oxides to form solid compounds such as nitrosyl heptafluorouranate (NOUF₇) and nitryl heptafluorouranate (NO₂UF₇). Since these compounds are undesirable impurities in uranium hexafluoride, a method has been developed for the determination of these nitrogen oxyfluorides in uranium hexafluoride. Uranium hexafluoride is hydrolyzed in a potassium permanganate solution which converts the uranium hexafluoride to uranyl fluoride and the nitrogen oxyfluorides to nitric acid. The nitrate is reduced with aluminum powder to ammonia, which is then measured with an ammonia electrode in a basic solution. The method is relatively interference-free because the electrode is a gas-sensing device. The detection limit is 0.8 μg bound N/g U, and the precision at 3 μg bound N/g U is ± 16%.