Spectrophotometric determination of nitrate and nitrite in soil and water samples with a diazotizable aromatic amine and coupling agent using column preconcentration on naphthalene supported with ion-pair of tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium and iodide

Composite diazotization-coupling reagents containing sulfanilamide (SAM), sulfapyridine (SP) or sulfathiazole (ST) as the diazotizable aromatic amines and sodium 1-naphthol-4-sulfonate (NS) as the coupling agent using column preconcentration on naphthalene-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium(TDBA)-iodide adsorbent have been used for the spectrometric determination of trace nitrate and nitrite in soil and water samples. Nitrite ion reacts with SAM in the pH range 2.0–5.0, SP in the pH range 2.0–2.5 and ST in the pH range 2.0–3.3 in HCl medium to form water-soluble colourless diazonium cations. These cations were coupled with NS in the pH range 9.0–12.0 for the SAM system, 9.6–12.0 for the SP system and 8.5–12.0 for the ST system to be retained on naphthalene-TDBA-I material packed in a column. The solid mass is dissolved from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide and the absorbance is measured spectrometerically at 543 nm for SAM-NS, 533 nm for SP-NS and 535 nm for ST-NS. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite by a copper-coated cadmium reductor column and the nitrite is then treated with the diazotization-coupling reagent by column preconcentration. The absorbance due to the sum of nitrate and nitrite is measured and nitrate is determined by difference. The calibration graph was linear over the range 2–40 ng NO₂⁻-N ml⁻¹ and 1.5–30 ng NO₃⁻-N ml⁻¹ in aqueous samples for the SAM and ST systems and 2–48 ng NO₂⁻-N ml⁻¹ and 1.5–36 ng NO₃⁻-N ml⁻¹ in aqueous samples for the SP system, respectively. The sensitivity, accuracy and precision of the systems decreased in the order STSAMSP. The detection limits were 1.4 ng NO₂⁻-N ml⁻¹ and 1.1 ng NO₃⁻-N ml⁻¹ for SAM, 1.6 ng NO₂⁻-N ml⁻¹ and 1.2 ng NO₃⁻-N ml⁻¹ for SP, and 1.0 ng NO₂⁻-N ml⁻¹ and 0.75 ng NO₃⁻-N ml⁻¹ for ST, respectively. The preconcentration factors are 8, 5 and 6 for SAM-NS, SP-NS and ST-NS, respectively. Interferences from various foreign ions have been studied and the methods have been applied to the determination of ng ml⁻¹ levels of nitrite and nitrate in soil and water samples. The mean recovery was 95–102% for all three systems.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow-injection analysis

An automatic direct spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow-injection analysis has been developed. Nitrite reacts with 3-nitroaniline in the presence of hydrochloric acid (0.96-1.8 M HCl or pH 0.5-0.7) to form a diazonium cation, which is subsequently coupled with N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride to form a stable purple azo dye, the absorbance of which is measured at 535 nm. Nitrate is reduced on-line to nitrite in a copper-coated cadmium column which is then treated with azo dye reagent and the absorbance due to the sum of nitrite and nitrate is measured; nitrate is determined from the difference in absorbance values. A copper column incorporated into the reaction manifold before the copperised cadmium column not only improves the long-term accuracy, but also extends the life time of the copperised cadmium column. Various analytical parameters, such as effect of acidity (pH), flow rate, sample size, dispersion coefficient, time, temperature, reagent concentration and interfering species, were studied. The calibration graphs were rectilinear for 0.1-3.5 mug ml(-1) of NO(3) and 10 ng ml(-1)-2.2mug ml(-1) of NO(2). The method is successfully applied to some food samples (meat, flour and cheese), environmental waters (inland and surface), beer and soil samples. Up to 30 samples can be analysed per hour with a relative precision of approximately 0.1-2%.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow injection analysis.

A new catalytic spectrophotometric method is reported for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow injection analysis, based on the catalytic effect of nitrite on the redox reaction between pyrogallolsulfonephthalein and potassium bromate in acidic media. Nitrate can also be on-line reduced to nitrite with a modified copper-coated cadmium reduction column. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of pyrogallolsulfonephthalein at 465 nm. Various analytical parameters such as effects of acidity, reagent concentrations, flow rates, sample sizes, lengths of the reaction coil and temperatures were studied and were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration graph was linear for 2.4 to 160 ng ml(-1) of nitrite and 4.0 to 100 ng ml(-1) of nitrate. The influences of potential interfering cations and anions for nitrite and nitrate determination were studied. The method is successfully applied for food and water samples. Up to ten samples can be analyzed per hour.     

Denitrification of Highly Alkaline Nitrate Waste Using Adapted Sludge

Uranium extraction and regeneration of ion exchange resin generates concentrated nitrate effluents (typically 500 to 10,000 ppm NO(3)-N) that are highly alkaline in nature (pH 9.0 to 11.0). It is difficult to remove nitrate from such solutions using standard physiochemical and biological methods. This paper reports denitrification of such wastes using preadapted sludge (biomass), which was acclimatized to different influent pH (7.5 to 11.5) in a sequencing batch reactor (4 l) for 2 months. Performance of the developed consortia was studied under different pH (7.5 to 12). Biomass denitrified the synthetic wastewater containing 1,694 ppm NO(3)-N at a pH of 10.5. Decrease in nitrite build up was observed at higher pH, which differs from the reported results. Kinetic analysis of the data showed that specific rate of nitrate reduction was highest (78 mg NO(3)-N/g MLSS/h) at higher pH (10.5). This was attributed to the acclimatization process. Thus, high-strength nitrate wastewater, which was highly alkaline, was successfully treated using preadapted sludge.     

A simple simultaneous flow injection method based on phosphomolybdenum chemistry for nitrate and nitrite determinations in water and fish samples

A direct spectrophotometric flow injection method for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate has been developed. The method is based on the oxidation of a phosphomolybdenum blue complex by the addition of nitrite and the decrease in absorbance of the blue complex is monitored at 820 nm. The injected sample is split into two segments. One of the streams was directly reacted with the above reagent and detected as nitrite. The other stream was passed through a copperised cadmium reductor column where reduction of nitrate to nitrite occurs, and the sample was then mixed with the reagent and passed through the cell of the spectrophotometer to be detected as nitrite plus nitrate. The conditions for the flow injection manifold parameters were optimised by experimental design and the concentration of nitrite and nitrate was determined in the linear range from 0.05 to 1.15 mug ml(-1) nitrite and 0.06 to 1.6 mug ml(-1) nitrate with a detection limit of 0.01 mug ml(-1) for nitrite and 0.025 mug ml(-1) for nitrate. The method is suitable for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in fish and water samples with a sampling rate of 25+/-2 sample per hour.     

Fluorimetric determination of nitrogen oxides in the air by a novel red-region fluorescent reagent

A sensitive fluorimetric method for the determination of nitrogen oxides (NO(x): NO+NO(2)) in air is described. Nitrogen dioxide (nitrogen monoxide was previously converted to nitrogen dioxide in oxide tubes) was aspirated through a fritted glass bubble at a flow rate of 500 ml min(-1) for 120 min and fixed as nitrite, using 0.1 N NaOH as a trapping solution with the empirical absorption efficiency 0.74 and the stoichiometric factor 0.5. The method is based on the fluorescence quenching of a red-region fluorescent reagent, tetra-substituted amino aluminum phthalocyanine (TAAlPc), after being diazotized by nitrite. Under optimal conditions the linear range of the calibration curve for nitrite is 1-40 ng ml(-1) (NO(2) 0.24-9.6 ppb, v/v). The detection limit is 0.34 ng ml(-1) for nitrite (NO(2) 0.08 ppb, v/v) and the relative standard deviation for six replicate measurements of 15 ng ml(-1) nitrite is 3.2%. The method has been applied to the determination of nitrogen oxides in the air with satisfactory results. Typical gaseous co-pollutants such as SO(2), H(2)S and HCHO did not interference the determination.     

Long-term γ-radiolysis kinetics of NO3(-) and NO2(-) solutions

Radiolysis kinetics in NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) solutions during γ-irradiation were studied at an absorbed dose rate of 2.1 Gy·s(-1) at room temperature. Air- or argon-saturated nitrate or nitrite solutions at pH 6.0 and 10.6 were irradiated, and the aqueous concentrations of molecular water decomposition products, H(2) and H(2)O(2), and the variation in the concentrations of NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) were measured as a function of irradiation time. The experimental data were compared with computer simulations using a comprehensive radiolysis kinetic model to aid in interpretation of the experimental results. The effect of nitrate and nitrite, present at concentrations below 10(-3) M, on water radiolysis processes occurs through reactions with the radical species generated by water radiolysis, (?)e(aq)(-), (?)O(2)(-), and (?)OH. The changes in H(2) and H(2)O(2) concentrations observed in the presence of nitrate and nitrite under a variety of conditions can be explained by a reduction in the radical concentrations. The kinetic analysis shows that the main loss pathway for H(2) is the reaction with (?)OH and the main loss pathways for H(2)O(2) are reactions with (?)e(aq)(-) and (?)OH. Nitrate and nitrite compete for the radicals leading to an increase in the concentrations of H(2) and H(2)O(2). Post-irradiation measurements of H(2), H(2)O(2), NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) concentrations can be used to calculate the radical concentrations and provide information on the redox conditions of the irradiated aqueous solutions.     

Determination of nitrate and nitrite in rat brain perfusates by capillary electrophoresis

A fast and simple method for the direct, simultaneous detection of nitrite (NO(2) (-)) and nitrate (NO(3) (-)) in rat striatum has been developed using a capillary electrophoresis separation of low-flow push-pull perfusion samples. The method was optimized primarily for nitrite because nitrite is more important physiologically and is found at lower levels than nitrate. We obtained a complete separation of NO(2) (-) and NO(3) (-) in rat striatum within 1.5 min. Optimal CE separations were achieved with 20 mM phosphate, 2 mM cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) buffer at pH 3.5. The samples were injected electrokinetically for 2 s into a 40 cm x 75 microm ID fused-silica capillary. The separation voltage was 10 kV (negative polarity), and the injection voltage was 16 kV (negative polarity). UV detection was performed at 214 nm. The limits of detection obtained at a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3 for nitrite and nitrate were 0.96 and 2.86 microM. This is one of the fastest separations of nitrite and nitrate of a biological sample ever reported. Interference produced by the high physiological level of chloride is successfully minimized by use of CTAC in the run buffer.     

Portable flow-injection analyzer for nitrite and nitrate in natural water.

A portable flow-injection analyzer with solid-state spectrophotometric detection for the determination of nitrite and nitrate is described. It utilizes the Griess-Saltzman reaction. The instrument comprises a two-channel peristaltic pump, two six-port injection valves and a mini cadmium column between them. The sample loops were connected serially. The detection limits of the method were less than 7 microg l(-1) for NO2- and 10 microg l(-1) for NO3-.     

强碱阴离子交换树脂及碱性洗脱剂的离子排阻/阴离子交换色谱法同时测定NH4+ ，NO2-和NO3-（英文）

Ion-exclusion/anion-exchange chromatography(IEC/AEC) on a combination of a strongly basic anion-exchange resin in the OH——form with basic eluent has been developed.The separation mechanism is based on the ion-exclusion/penetration effect for cations and the anion-exchange effect for anions to anion-exchange resin phase.This system is useful for simultaneous separation and determination of ammonium ion(NH+4),nitrite ion(NO-2),and nitrate ion(NO-3) in water samples.The resolution of analyte ions can be manipulated by changing the concentration of base in eluent on a polystyrene-divinylbenzene based strongly basic anion-exchange resin column.In this study,several separation columns,which consisted of different particle sizes,different functional groups and different anion-exchange capacities,were compared.As the results,the separation column with the smaller anion-exchange capacity(TSKgel Super IC-Anion) showed well-resolved separation of cations and anions.In the optimization of the basic eluent,lithium hydroxide(LiOH) was used as the eluent and the optimal concentration was concluded to be 2 mmol/L,considering the resolution of analyte ions and the whole retention times.In the optimal conditions,the relative standard deviations of the peak areas and the retention times of NH+4,NO-2,and NO-3 ranged 1.28%-3.57% and 0.54%-1.55%,respectively.The limits of detection at signal-to-noise of 3 were 4.10 μmol/L for NH+4,1.87 μmol/L for NO-2 and 2.83 μmol/L for NO-3.     

Determination of traces of inorganic anions by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on zipaxsax columns

Zipax-SAX pellicular beads are used as the anion-exchanger material ; a high-pressure packing technique is described. A Zipax-SAX column (200 × 4.5 mm) is used in a separation system with eluent suppression and conductivity detection as in ion-chromatography. Good separation of chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate and sulfate is obtained with 1.4 × 10^-3 M succinate or adipate eluents at pH 7. A complete separation takes about 6 min at a flow rate of 3 ml min^-1. Detection limits of 2 μg l^-1 chloride, 4 μg l^-1 nitrate and 10 μg l^-1 sulfate can be reached if 2 ml of sample is preconcentrated.     

Separation and quantitation of monovalent anionic and cationic species in mainstream cigarette smoke aerosols by high-performance ion chromatography

A simple method has been developed to separate and quantitate monovalent ionic species in mainstream cigarette smoke aerosols based on ion chromatography (IC) with conductivity detection. The method entails collecting the smoke aerosol particulate phase by electrostatic precipitation, dissolving the smoke condensate in methanol (MeOH), and separating the ionic species on either a cation- or anion-exchange column. The method has been applied to the analysis of smoke aerosols from two cigarettes, 1R4F Kentucky Reference cigarettes and a new cigarette that heats but does not burn tobacco. The predominant cations in smoke aerosols from 1R4F Kentucky Reference and the new cigarettes are sodium (Na+), ammonium (NH4+), and potassium (K+) ions; the predominant anions are acetate (AcO-) and formate (HCOO-). Trace amounts of chloride (Cl-), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate (NO3-) ions are also present.     

Trinuclear to dinuclear: a radii dependence lanthanide(III) self-assembly coordination behavior of an amide-type tripodal ligand

Lanthanide nitrate complexes with the heptadentate ligand L (6-[2-(2-(diethylamino)-2-oxoethoxy)ethyl]-N,N,12-triethyl-11-oxo-3,9-dioxa-6,12-diazatetradecanamide), [Ln(2)L(NO(3))(6)] (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Ho), have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystallographic studies show that, in [La(2)L(NO(3))(6)(H(2)O)].H(2)O (1), two complex cations [LaL(H(2)O)](3+) are linked by a hexanitrato anion [La(NO(3))(6)](3)(-) and form a trinuclear cation. In [Nd(2)L(NO(3))(6)(H(2)O)].CHCl(3).1/2CH(3)OH.1/2H(2)O (2), one complex cation [NdL(H(2)O)](3+) and a hexanitrato complex anion [Nd(NO(3))(6)](3)(-) are linked by a bridging NO(3)(-) to form a dinuclear complex. In both complexes, the bridging nitrate is an unusual tetradentate ligand. The metal ions are 12-coordinated in hexanitrato anions and 10-coordinated in complex cations. The chainlike supramolecular structures of La(3+) complex are parallel and have no hydrogen bonds in between, while, in the Nd(3+) complex, a chiral cavity is formed by hydrogen bonds between two adjacent supramolecular chains. These influences are further investigated by assessing the separation efficiency of L and (1)H NMR spectra of its lanthanide nitrate mixtures in solution.     

Nitrite and nitrate measurement in human urine by capillary electrophoresis.

Nitrite and nitrate have been widely used as markers for nitric oxide (NO) formation in vivo and represent the major NO oxidation products in biological fluids. In the present study, the use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) in the measurement of nitrite and nitrate in human urine is described. Urine samples were electrophoresed in an extended light path fused-silica capillary (104 cm; 75 microm ID) at an applied negative potential of 30 kV, and UV detection at 214 nm. Using electrokinetic sample injection (-6 kV x 20 s), we found that urine concentration, pH, sodium and chloride interfered with nitrite and nitrate detection. The detection of nitrite and nitrate was decreased when hydrodynamic sample injection was used (30 mbar x 60 s). However, basal levels of urinary nitrite (0.25 +/- 0.05 microM) and nitrate (591 +/- 115 microM) were detected and no interference by variations in urine concentration and pH was noted when hydrodynamic sample injection was used. Thus, hydrodynamic sample injection is convenient for the measurement of urinary nitrite and nitrate and avoids the effect of variations in urine matrices and pH on nitrite and nitrate detection.     

Denitrification of simulated nitrate-rich wastewater using sulfamic acid and zinc scrap

An enhanced chemical denitrification process was studied as an alternative treatment of nitrate-rich wastewater which cannot be easily treated using conventional biological methods. To accelerate denitrification and to reduce the conversion to ammonia, nitrite reductants were added. In a batch test with the initial nitrate concentration of 500 mg NO ₃ ^? -N per L, sulfamic acid and zinc were found to be the best nitrite and metal reductants, respectively. In a column test with the initial nitrate concentration of 500 mg NO ₃ ^? -N per L, optimum results were experimentally obtained over a zinc scrap column with a 1.0 molar ratio of [NH₂SO₃H]/[NO ₃ ^? -N] and the recirculating flow rate of 6 L min^?1 at pH 2.5. Approximately 98.8 % of nitrate anions were removed, and the observed reaction rate constant (k) was 0.135 min^?1. Zinc consumption was reduced to 46.6 % compared to the procedure without sulfamic acid, and sulfamic acid consumption was reduced to 40 % compared to the results of our previous study. Based on these experimental results, it was concluded that chemical nitrate denitrification using sulfamic acid and zinc scrap is an effective alternative treatment protocol for nitrate-rich wastewater.     

Reaction of cyclic nitroxides with nitrogen dioxide: the intermediacy of the oxoammonium cations

Piperidine and pyrrolidine nitroxides, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TPO) and 3-carbamoylproxyl (3-CP), respectively, are cell-permeable stable radicals, which effectively protect cells, tissues, isolated organs, and laboratory animals from radical-induced damage. The kinetics and mechanism of their reactions with .OH, superoxide, and carbon-centered radicals have been extensively studied, but not with .NO2, although the latter is a key intermediate in cellular nitrosative stress. In this research, .NO2 was generated by pulse radiolysis, and its reactions with TPO, 4-OH-TPO, 4-oxo-TPO, and 3-CP were studied by fast kinetic spectroscopy, either directly or by using ferrocyanide or 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), which effectively scavenge the product of this reaction, the oxoammonium cation. The rate constants for the reactions of .NO2 with these nitroxides were determined to be (7-8) x 10(8) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), independent of the pH over the range 3.9-10.2. These are among the highest rate constants measured for .NO2 and are close to that of the reaction of .NO2 with .NO, that is, 1.1 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The hydroxylamines TPO-H and 4-OH-TPO-H are less reactive toward .NO2, and an upper limit for the rate constant for these reactions was estimated to be 1 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). The kinetics results demonstrate that the reaction of nitroxides with .NO2 proceeds via an inner-sphere electron-transfer mechanism to form the respective oxoammonium cation, which is reduced back to the nitroxide through the oxidation of nitrite to .NO2. Hence, the nitroxide slows down the decomposition of .NO2 into nitrite and nitrate and could serve as a reservoir of .NO2 unless the respective oxoammonium is rapidly scavenged by other reductant. This mechanism can contribute toward the protective effect of nitroxides against reactive nitrogen-derived species, although the oxoammonium cations themselves might oxidize essential cellular targets if they are not scavenged by common biological reductants, such as thiols.     

Influence of Operational Parameters and Low Nickel Concentrations on Partial Nitrification in a Submerged Biofilter

The effect of Ni(2+) concentrations on ammonium oxidation was studied in a batch and partial bionitrification reactor (PBNR). The nitrification rates up to the concentration of 0.1 mg Ni(2+)/l were close to those without Ni(2+). After testing the operational conditions in the PNBR, the highest NO(2)-N/NO( x )-N ratio was achieved at the DO concentrations of 2.0 mg/l and pH 9.00. The PNBR was operated at steady state (NH(4)-N loading rate and NO(2)-N/NO( x )-N ratio were 405?g m(-3) day(-1) and 0.74, respectively) before exposure to Ni(2+). The removal efficiency of NH(4)-N and NO(2)-N/NO( x )-N ratio in the effluent waters was increased by adding low concentrations of heavy metals to the PBNR. The average number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria at the biofilm surface and in the water in the void volume of PNBR were 1.0?×?10(4) CFU/g and 1.4?×?10(5) CFU/ml, respectively.     

Theoretical Studies on the Isomerization of Peroxynitrite to Nitrate Mediated by Peroxynitrous Acid

The conversion of peroxynitrite （ONOO-） to nitrate （NO3-） mediated by peroxynitrous acid （ONOOH） has been investigated at the CCSD/6-311G（d）//B3LYP/6-31 1＋G（d,p） level. Two kinds of pathways for the title reaction were found. The results show that the energy barrier of isomerization through pathway 1 is around 25 kcal/mol in the gas phase. This value is significantly lower than that of isomerization without any catalysts. Thus, it indicates that ONOOH definitely makes the conversion from ONOO- to NO3- feasible. Although pathway 2 does not decrease the energy barrier of this isomerization, peroxynitric acid （O2NOOH） was obtained; moreover, this is a new pathway for this formation. In view of the results that peroxynitrate anion can decompose into nitrite and dioxygen, we conclude that our results are consistent with the experimental observation that nitrate, nitrite, and dioxygen are the main final products of the decay of peroxynitrite around pH 7.     

Mechanism of the NO2 conversion to NO2- in an alkaline solution.

The reaction of NO2 and NaOH aqueous solution at room temperature was studied for elucidating the behavior of gaseous NO2 in an alkaline solution. Experimental runs related to NO2 absorption have been carried out in various pH solutions. The nitrite and nitrate ions formed in these absorption solutions were quantitatively analyzed. In the case of pH 5-12, both of the nitrite and nitrate ions were formed simultaneously. On the other hand, only the nitrite ion was formed when the pH of the absorption solution was higher than 13. In this paper, a new reaction mechanism was proposed to explain the selective formation of nitrite ion in the 10 M alkaline solution. In order to confirm the new reaction mechanism, H2(18)O was used as part of the absorption solution for detecting oxygen gas production. The amounts of reaction products: (18)O(18)O, (18)O(16)O and (16)O(16)O, were quantitatively determined. It was confirmed that the new reaction proceeds mainly in the 10 M alkaline solution.     

Seasonal and water column trends of the relative role of nitrate and nitrite as *OH sources in surface waters

Based on literature data of sunlight spectrum, photolysis quantum yields, and absorption spectra, the relative role of nitrite and nitrate as *OH sources in surface waters was assessed, and its dependence on the season and the depth of the water column studied. In the majority of surface water samples (river, lake and seawater) nitrite is expected to play a more important role as *OH source compared to nitrate, in spite of the usually lower [NO2(-)] values. Interestingly, under the hypothesis of a constant ratio of the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite (to be corrected later on for the actual concentration ratio in a given sample), the relative role of nitrite compared to nitrate would be minimum in summer, at noon, in the surface layer of natural waters. Any decrease in the sunlight intensity that can be experienced in the natural environment (different season than summer, water column absorption, time of the day other than the solar noon), with its associated influence on the sunlight spectrum, would increase the relative role of nitrite compared to nitrate.