Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Preparation of Hydrophobic Metal-Organic Frameworks via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Perfluoroalkanes for the Removal of Ammonia
Published on: October 10, 2013
Determination of ammonia in beers by pervaporation flow injection analysis and spectrophotometric detection
Lijuan Wang1, Terence J Cardwell, Robert W Cattrall
1Analytical Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.
Abstract:
A pervaporation flow injection (PFI) method is described for the determination of ammonia in beers. After injecting the sample into a NaOH donor solution, ammonia and other volatiles are transferred in the pervaporation unit from the donor stream to an acceptor stream containing sodium salicylate and nitroprusside, which subsequently mixes with alkaline sodium dichloroisocyanurate to allow the classical Berthelot reaction to take place. The blue-coloured complex formed is monitored spectrophotometrically at 655 nm. A linear calibration curve with a range of 0.1-40 mg l(-1) was obtained. The method has a detection limit of 0.05 mg l(-1) and is capable of a sampling frequency of 11 h(-1) at 4 mg l(-1) ammonia. It was applied successfully to the determination of ammonia in synthetic samples and unfiltered lager beers. The advantages of the present method over the ammonia ion-selective electrode method and the PFI system based on mixed indicator detection are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Beer–Lambert Law
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Lab
Solutions containing organic solvents, such as low-molecular-mass alcohols, esters, or ketones, enhance absorbances by increasing nebulizer...
Gas Chromatography: Types of Detectors-II
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Overview
When irradiated by EMR of a particular wavelength, these...
NMR Spectroscopy Of Amines
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Interference
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...

