The Dumas method in analytical chemistry is a method for the quantitative determination of nitrogen in chemical substances based on a method first described by Jean-Baptiste Dumas in 1826.
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An automated instrumental technique has been developed which is capable of rapidly measuring the crude protein concentration of food samples and is now replacing the Kjeldahl method as the standard method of analysis for protein content for food and animal feeds.
Method
The method consists of combusting a sample of known mass in a high temperature (about 900°C) chamber in the presence of oxygen. This leads to the release of carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen. The gases are then passed over special columns(such as potassium hydroxide aqueous solution) that absorb the carbon dioxide and water. A column containing a thermal conductivity detector at the end is then used to separate the nitrogen from any residual carbon dioxide and water and the remaining nitrogen content is measured. The instrument must first be calibrated by analyzing a material that is pure and has a known nitrogen concentration. The measured signal from the thermal conductivity detector for the unknown sample can then be converted into a nitrogen content. As with the Kjeldahl method, conversion of the concentration of nitrogen in a sample to the crude protein content is performed using conversion factors which depend on the particular amino acid sequence of the measured protein.
Advantages and limitations
The Dumas method has the advantages of being easy to use and fully automated. It is also considerably faster than the Kjeldahl method, taking a few minutes per measurement, as compared to the hour or more for Kjeldahl. It also does not make use of toxic chemicals or catalysts. One major disadvantage is its high initial cost, although new technology developments are reducing this. Also, as with Kjeldahl, it does not give a measure of true protein, as it registers nonprotein nitrogen, and different correction factors are needed for different proteins because they have different amino acid sequences.