Alternative Method for Analysis of Total Protein Using the Nitrogen Determinator. Alan Foster, Adolph Coors Company, Golden, Colorado 80401. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 47:0042, 1989.

The analysis of total protein is critical to the evaluation of many constituents and by-products of the brewing process. Currently, the most comon method in use for analysis of total protein is Kjeldahl digestion. The Kjeldahl digestion method requires significant time input in each analysis and involves the use of potentially hazardous chemicals. The alternative method presented here uses the LECO FP-228 Nitrogen Determinator to analyze total protein or total nitrogen. This instrumental method involves combustion of a sample in an oxygen atmosphere followed by a series of catalytic reactions that result in nitrogen gas. This gas is utilized for determining the total protein. The use of this instrumental method significantly reduces the analysis time and eliminates the use of potentially hazardous chemicals in the analysis. Not only do the results from the Nitrogen Determinator correlate with the Kjeldahl method, but there is less variance using the Nitrogen Determinator.

Keywords: Kjeldahl, LECO FP-228 Nitrogen Determinator, Total nitrogen, Total protein