Determination of calorific value of feedstuffs by chromic acid oxidation

Abstract

Abstract A method is described for the determination of the calorific value of feedstuffs by oxidation with a solution of potassium dichromate in sulphuric acid. Energy values are obtained by dividing the amount of 1.5N‐dichromate used to oxidise 1 g. of material by a factor dependent on the protein content. The technique is simple, rapid, applicable to large numbers of samples and gives results in good agreement with those obtained by bomb calorimetry.