2.3.

01 (c) Organic ma te rial like cot ton seed meal alone or in

AOAC Official Method 957.02
Phosphorus (Total) in Fertilizers
Preparation of Test Solution
First Action 1957
Final Action
A. Reagent
Mag ne sium ni trate so lu tion.—Dis solve 950 g P-free
Mg(NO3)2⋅6H2O in H2O and dilute to 1 L.
B. Preparation of Solution
(Caution: See Appendix B, safety notes on perchloric acid.)
Treat 1 g test portion by (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e), as indicated. Cool
solution, transfer to 200 or 250 mL volumetric flask, dilute to
volume, mix, and filter through dry filter.
(a) Ma te rials con tain ing small quan ti ties of or ganic
matter.—Dissolve in 30 mL HNO3 and 3–5 mL HCl, and boil until
organic matter is destroyed (30 min for liquids and suspensions).
(b) Fertilizers containing much Fe or Al phosphate, and basic
slag.—See 2.017, 10th Ed.
mixtures.—Evaporate with 5 mL Mg(NO3)2 solution, A, ignite, and
dissolve in HCl.
(d) Materials or mixtures containing large amounts of organic
matter.—See 2.017(d), 11th Ed.
(e) All fertilizers.—Boil gently 30–45 min with 20–30 mL HNO3
in suitable flask (preferably Kjeldahl test for products containing
large amounts of organic matter) to oxidize all easily oxidizable
matter. Cool. Add 10–20 mL 70–72% HClO4. Boil very gently until
solution is colorless or nearly so and dense white fumes appear in
flask. Do not boil to dryness at any time. (With products containing
large amounts of organic matter, raise temperature to fuming point,
ca 170°C, over period of ≥1 h.) Cool slightly, add 50 mL H2O, and
boil few minutes.
Reference: JAOAC 40, 690(1957).
CAS-7723-14-0 (phosphorus)

 2005 AOAC INTERNATIONAL