RUMEN GAS ANALYSIS BY GAS-SOLID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

Methods are described for sampling and analysing rumen gases. The analysis requires less than 15 minutes for the determination of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide, i.e., for all gases occurring in the rumen. The method is sensitive and requires only a small quantity of sample, and the sample volume need not be known. The presence of water or other vapours in the sample does not influence the results. Relative thermal detector responses have been determined for gases which occur in the rumen. These eliminate the necessity for the calibration of gas chromatographs using thermal detection. The first complete analysis of rumen gas is presented.