Quantitative Method for Determining the Steam Volatile Fatty Acids in Rumen Fluid by Gas Chromatography

Abstract

A highly repeatable, quantitative method is described in detail for isolating the 6 most prevailing steam volatile fatty acids in rumen injesta by distillation and determining the concentration by titration. The usual acid ratio of the sample is changed quantitatively by means of a water-ether partition to a better suited ratio for vapor factometry; gas chromatography is used only to ascertain the acid ratio. The concentration of each acid in the rumen liquor then can be calculated by combining acid ratio and total acid concentration. A description of an efficient steam distillation made out of common laboratory glassware is included.