XXXIII.—I. On the Estimation of Carbon in Organic Substances by the Kjeldahl Method. II. Its Application to the Analysis of Potable Waters

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An easy and yet accurate method of determining carbon and nitrogen in organic substances has long been a desideratum, especially among those engaged in the application of chemistry to biological, hygienic, and agricultural questions. For the determination of nitrogen the method of Dumas, with its numerous modifications, is still the only one applicable in all cases, but the time required for it, and the manipulative dexterity necessary, has prevented its wide application for the above-named purposes. The method of Will and Varrentrap, though less generally applicable, is easier, and, until the publication of Kjeldahl's method, was most frequently used in applied chemistry. Kjeldahl claims for his method the same applicability and as great accuracy as the Will and Varrentrap method, with the added advantage of greater ease in working.