This method is suitable for the analysis of virtually allorganic materials which decompose below 1000°C. This includes notonly hydrocarbons, but also organic materials which containnitrogen, sulfur, and/or halogens. Dissolved molecular oxygen,organic oxygen, and the oxygen of water, carbon dioxide and carbonmonoxide are included in the total oxygen. The oxygen of certainmetal oxides, such as ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃),is reducible but others, such as alumina(Al₂O₃), do not react and are notdeterminable by this method. Therefore metal oxides are aninterference.

The total oxygen content can be determined in the entire rangefrom 5 ppm to several percent.

Samples containing fluorine may yield high results because thefluorine attacks the quartz pyrolysis tube, but after the pyrolysistube has developed a carbon "skin" the data indicate that fluoridedoes not constitute an interference at levels below 5% F.