Direct determination of oxygen in organic materials-I A study of the carbon reduction method

The results of an investigation into the nature of the carbon reduction process in the Unterzaucher method for the microdetermination of oxygen are reported and discussed. The reaction between carbon dioxide and carbon is discussed, and its relation to the specific surface area, which contrary to belief has been found not to contribute to the efficiency of the reaction. It is shown that carbon-oxygen complexes give rise to errors in the results, and that an intermediate, SiO(OH), formed on the inner surface of the silica pyrolysis tube might be a precursor to the formation of carbon monoxide as a source of blank error and of the apparent oxygen content of pure hydrocarbons.