Test strip for determination of nitrite in water

A disposable test strip is proposed for the determination of nitrite in waters. The strip is an inert rectangular strip of polyester with a 6 mm o.d. circular, transparent and colorless film attached to its surface. This film contains the chemicals required for reaction and fixation of the dye formed, sulfanilamide, N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine on Nafion. When the test strip is placed in an acidified (pH 2.0) sample solution containing nitrite a red-violet color develops; the absorbance of this is measured at 536 nm. The linear range of the method depends on the time of equilibration of the test strip with the sample solution. When the equilibration time was 45 min, the linear range was 8.9-500 microg L(-1) whereas for an equilibration time of 60 min it was 4.7-200 microg L(-1). The detection limit was 1.4 microg L(-1) for an equilibration time of 60 min. The precision of the method, expressed as RSD, was 8.8 % at 100.0 microg L(-1). The method was applied, and validated chemometrically, for the determination of nitrite in different types of water (spring, mineral, tap, well, and sea).