A rapid method for the determination of organic nitrogen and phosphorus based on a single perchloric acid digestion

Results of nitrogen determinations obtained by perchloric acid digestion of organic matter under reflux were found to be equivalent to those obtained by the conventional sulfuric acid Kjeldahl method. A rapid determination of nitrogen and phosphorus was thus possible after a single perchloric acid digestion. Nitrogen was determined by nesslerization and phosphorus by a conventional molybdenum blue technique. The method devised was found satisfactory for a great variety of natural products and pure organic compounds, including materials containing all kinds of tertiary nitrogen.