Use of a robotic station for full automation of thedetermination of organic matter in soil and fertilizers

[摘要] A fully automatic method for the determination of organic matterhas been implemented using a robotic station. The overall processinvolves weighing, dilution, oxidation in very harsh workingconditions (K2Cr2O7+ concentrated H2SO4) dilution, centrifugationand photometric monitoring of the Cr(III) formed.Batches of six samples are manipulated by the robot, which alsocalibrates and delivers the results of the sample determination, bothin soil and fertilizers, as percentages of organic matter which requireslightly different sample treatment. The precision and validationof the method have been established using both types of samplesand the results obtained compare well with those of the methodused for routine analysis in official agricultural laboratories.

[学科分类] 分析化学