Portable determinations for legislated dissolved nitrogen forms in several environmental water samples as a study
S Cortés-Bautista1, H R Robles-Jimárez1, I Carrero-Ferrer1
1MINTOTA Research Group, Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, València, Spain.
The Science of the Total Environment
|December 25, 2022
Summary
Portable instruments can now measure total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in situ, addressing water eutrophication. This study validates various methods for real-time water quality monitoring, aiding environmental compliance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Water Quality Monitoring
Background:
- Water eutrophication is a growing global ecological concern, significantly influenced by total dissolved nitrogen (TDN).
- Traditional laboratory analysis of TDN from grab samples is time-consuming and does not meet the demand for real-time, in situ monitoring.
- Accurate measurement of various nitrogen species is crucial for assessing water quality and enforcing environmental regulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and validate portable, in situ analytical methodologies for determining key species contributing to total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in water.
- To assess the suitability of various portable instruments for real-time water quality analysis and regulatory compliance.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of available portable options for in situ TDN determination based on legislated requirements.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated portable optical fiber probes for nitrate analysis against benchtop equipment and in situ analyzers.
- Tested in situ solid devices for nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium, utilizing smartphone-coupled spectrometers for colorimetric measurements.
- Employed portable optical fiber probes for amino nitrogen fluorescence and portable luminometers for organic amino nitrogen and ammonium determination.
- Assessed a portable miniaturized liquid chromatograph for monitoring environmental nitrogen pollutants.
Main Results:
- All tested portable methods demonstrated suitable results when compared to traditional laboratory estimations.
- Smartphone-based colorimetry and portable probes proved effective for in situ analysis of inorganic and organic nitrogen species.
- Portable instruments were effective in evaluating compliance with water quality legislation for various water types.
Conclusions:
- Portable instruments offer viable and accurate solutions for in situ total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) analysis, crucial for combating water eutrophication.
- The development of these portable technologies facilitates real-time water quality monitoring and regulatory enforcement.
- A range of portable analytical options are now available to meet specific legislated requirements for different water types.
Keywords:
AnalyzerNitrogen compoundsPortable miniaturized liquid chromatographyPortable optical instrumentsWater analysis
