Rapid decomposition of organic materials with acidic lithium sulphate flux containing catalysts, oxidizing agents or reducing agents, and Kjeldahl determination of nitrogen

Organic compounds and natural materials such as dimethylglyoxime, p-nitrophenol, alpha-nitroso-beta-naphthol, 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol, phenylhydrazine hydrochloride, monopyrazolone, residual fuel oil and coal can be rapidly decomposed in the melting state with various ratios of sulphuric acid-lithium sulphate (v/w) mixture containing catalysts, oxidizing agents or reducing agents such as elemental selenium powder, cupric sulphate, ceric sulphate and stannous sulphate. The quantitative recovery of nitrogen in the melting medium can be obtained with the Kjeldahl method.