Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate Nitrogen in Water: Analysis Methods and Applications

Importance of Nitrite/Nitrite Nitrogen Determination

Nitrite (NO₂^-) and nitrate (NO₃^-) nitrogen are considered indicators of environmental water pollution. The introduction of nitrate and nitrite into water from agriculture, industrial wastes and urban runoff can disrupt the ecological balance of aquatic environments and harm human health. Therefore, accurate and precise determination of these components in water is of great importance for water and wastewater management.

Nitrite and Nitrate Nitrogen Determination Methods

Determination of nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in water and wastewater can be done by various analysis methods. These methods define the techniques and instruments required to determine the concentrations of these compounds in aquatic environments. Here are the main methods:

Phenol Di-sulfonic Acid (PDSA) Method: It is based on the principle that nitrate reacts with the PDSA reagent and forms a red azo dye. The intensity of this reaction is proportional to the concentration of nitrate. It is measured with a spectrophotometer. The absorption intensity is used to determine the concentration of nitrate.
Infrared (IR) Absorption Method: Based on the principle that nitrate (NO₃^-) absorbs infrared light at a specific wavelength. Nitrate is decomposed by gas phase reactions and the amount of absorption is proportional to the concentration of nitrate. Measured with an infrared spectrometer.
Chemiluminescence Method: Based on the principle that nitrate is passed through an ozone reactor to form nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gas. The chemical response of this gas through chemical reactions produces a light signal. The intensity of the light is directly proportional to the concentration of nitrate. It is measured with chemiluminescence detectors.
Color Method (with Digital Color Meter): It is based on the principle that the colored complexes formed by nitrite and nitrate are measured with a color scale device. This color is proportional to the concentration. It is measured using a digital color meter.
Dioxymeter Method: It is based on the principle that nitrite and nitrate are reduced in a reactant, resulting in the release of oxygen. This oxygen release is measured by a dioximeter device.

Application Areas of the Standard

ISO 12039 has a wide range of applications for the determination of nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in water and wastewater:

Agriculture and Water Management: Monitoring of nitrate and nitrite content of irrigation water.
Industrial Wastewater Monitoring: Control of nitrate and nitrite content of factory effluents.
Environmental Monitoring Systems: Water quality monitoring in lakes, rivers and streams.
Water Treatment Plants: Nitrate and nitrite monitoring in influent and effluent waters.
Legal and Regulatory Inspections: Quality control and management of water and wastewater samples.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Nitrite and Nitrate Nitrogen Determination in Water. We also provide services in Wastewater Analysis.

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