Total nitrogen determination of various sample types: a comparison of the Hach, Kjeltec, and Kjeldahl methods.

Conventional Kjeldahl analysis with modifications, Kjeltec analysis with block digestion and semiautomated distillation, and the Hach method for determining nitrogen (N) were compared using a wide range of samples. Twenty different sample types were ground and mixed. Each sample type was divided into 5 subsamples which were analyzed for N by each of the 3 methods. In each sample type, differences (P less than 0.05) were detected among the 3 N determination methods in 5 of the 20 N sources analyzed. The mean N content over all 20 samples was higher with Kjeldahl analysis (P less than 0.05) than with Kjeltec, while Hach analysis produced intermediate results. Results also indicated that the Hach procedure had the greatest ability to detect differences in N content among sample types, being more sensitive than either other method (P less than 0.05).