Introduction The Kjeldahl Nitrogen Analysis is a largely used method for determining the nitrogen content of organic substances.

It was developed in 1883 by the Danish chemist Johan Kjeldahl. In food, protein is a main container of nitrogen. In a Kjeldahl experiment, a sample is digested in boiling sulfuric acid which converts amine and amide nitrogen into ammonium ion, NH4+, and oxidizes other components (Organic C, H, N NH4+, CO2, and H2O). K2SO4 and CuSO4

catalyze the reaction by raising the boiling point of concentrated sulfuric acid. After digestion, the solution is made basic by adding concentrated NaOH (NH4+ + OHNH3 is distilled into a receiver containing a known amount of HCl (NH3 + H+ NH3(g) + H2O). NH4+).

Unreacted HCl is then titrated with NaOH and the NH3 content is determined by difference.

Experimental Method NaOH and HCl standardization A solution of NaOH was standardized by multiple titrations (4) of different solutions of potassium biphthalate (KHP) of known volume and molarity. The standardized NaOH solution was then used to standardize an HCl solution by multiple titrations of known volumes of HCl with NaOH. Kjeldahl Determination A sample of Old Fashioned Oats weighing 1.75g was used (1.75g was established to contain 2.5mmole of NH3). The sample was weighed onto a 9-cm filter paper which was then folded and dropped into a Kjeldahl flask. K2SO4 and CuSO4 were added as catalysts. 20 mL of concentrated H2SO4 was added to the Kjeldahl flask.

The sample was digested by heating and boiling of the acid. After digestion was complete, 200 mL of deionized water was carefully added to the flask. 40 mL of 50% NaOH was slowly added to the Kjeldahl flask to form a second layer. Several pieces of granulated zinc were added to minimize bumping during heating. The flask was immediately closed and the solution mixed thoroughly. The Kjeldahl flask was set for distillation and the distillate was received in a beaker containing 50 mL of standardized HCl. Approximately 100 mL of distillate was collected. The distillate was then titrated using the standardized NaOH solution.

Results and Discussion From the standardization of NaOH, the NaOH solution was standardized to 0.1062 ( 0.0002) M. The HCl solution used in this experiment was standardized to 0.1002 ( 0.0004) M. After digestion, distillation and titration of the sample, the protein content of the Old Fashioned Oats was found to be 11.9 ( 0.2) %. The reported protein content for 40g of Old Fashioned Oats is 5g, which gives 12.5% protein content. Given that there was only one attempt at finding out the protein content of the sample, it is not possible to perform any statistical tests to evaluate the precision of the method. Moreover a test for accuracy becomes difficult because it is not possible to find any errors due to incomplete digestion or loss of NH3 for the fact that a known sample was not used for analysis.

Conclusion In this experiment, the protein content of a sample of Old Fashioned Oats was analyzed by the Kjeldahl Nitrogen Analysis method. The sample was found to contain 11.9 ( 0.2) % of

protein. Relevant statistical tests could not be performed due to the limited number of attempts and absence of a sample of known concentration.

References Harris, D. C., Quantitative Chemical Analysis, eight edition, W. H. Freeman Company. Laboratory Experiments, Equilibrium and Analysis, Chemistry 331, Earlham College.

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