Determination of Ammonium in Water

Ammonium is the degradation of organic materials and vegetable proteins found in nature. It can also be excreted from the human body through the urine. Determination of Ammonium in water samples is carried out within the scope of quality tests. Detection of Ammonium in water samples, contamination of the water with feces or sewage water, creates the possibility of mixing animal wastes.

In order to be certain of sewage contamination in the waters, it should also be analyzed from a bacteriological point of view. Thus, if there is no fecal contamination in the waters, it can be interpreted as the decay of organic materials.

Bacteria naturally found in the soil oxidize ammonium and convert the ammonium to nitrite (NO2) and then to nitrate (NO3). Since the presence of nitrite in domestic and drinking water partially consumes the oxygen in the blood, it adversely affects the health of people, especially babies. According to the Drinking Water Regulation, the amount of nitrite is limited to 0.5 mg/lt.