Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of Nitrite and Nitrite at a Cu-30Ni Alloy Electrode

ABSTRACT

Significant catalytic activity towards the reduction of nitrite at unmodified Cu - 30% Ni alloy electrodes was found within the concentration ranges 16 – 200 μM nitrite. The reduction of nitrite was found to occur at potentials significantly less negative than the reduction of nitrate thereby providing clear resolution and the possibility of reliable nitrite / nitrate speciation. The results are contrasted with those found at a bare copper electrode where the spatial resolution of the nitrate and nitrite reduction processes is severely limited with significant overlap of the reduction processes. The procedure represents an inexpensive and facile method for nitrite determination in a number of applications.     

Simultaneous Ultraviolet Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrate and Nitrite in Water

Abstract

A rapid and accurate method for the direct simultaneous determination of nitrate and nitrite is proposed. The method is applied to the determination of nitrate and nitrite in rainwater and wastewater without preliminary separation. The determinations are performed by a CPA matrix method with ultraviolet spectrophotometric detection. The results obtained are in agreement with those obtained by conventional methods for the determination of nitrate and nitrite.     

Fluorimetric Determination of Nitrate

Abstract

A sensitive fluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of nitrate based on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite with hydrazine sulfate and the subsequent determination of the nitrite formed with 2, 3-diaminonaphthalene. Solvent effect on fluorescence intensity, optimum reaction conditions, and sensitivity of the method are discussed.     

Resorcinol as Fluorimetric Reagent for the Determination of Nitrate

Abstract

Sensitive fluorometric procedure has been developed for the determination of nitrate with resorcinol. Reaction conditions, sensitivity of the method and the effect of nitrite are discussed. It is possible to determine 5 to 70 ng of nitrate-nitrogen by the recommended method.     

A mechanism for the photochemical transformation of nitrate in snow

Photochemical reactions of trace compounds in snow have important implications for the composition of the atmospheric boundary layer in snow-covered regions and for the interpretation of concentration profiles in snow and ice regarding the composition of the past atmosphere. One of the prominent reactions is the photolysis of nitrate, which leads to the formation of OH radicals in the snow and to the release of reactive nitrogen compounds, like nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂) and nitrous acid (HONO) to the atmosphere. We performed photolysis experiments using artificial snow, containing variable initial concentrations of nitrate and nitrite, to investigate the reaction mechanism responsible for the formation of the reactive nitrogen compounds. Increasing the initial nitrite concentrations resulted in the formation of significant amounts of nitrate in the snow. A possible precursor of nitrate is NO₂, which can be transformed into nitrate either by the attack of a hydroxy radical or the hydrolysis of the dimer (N₂O₄). A mechanism for the transformation of the nitrogen-containing compounds in snow was developed, assuming that all reactions took place in a quasi-liquid layer (QLL) at the surface of the ice crystals. The unknown photolysis rates of nitrate and nitrite and the rates of NO and NO₂ transfer from the snow to the gas phase, respectively, were adjusted to give an optimum fit of the calculated time series of nitrate, nitrite, and gas phase NO_x with respect to the experimental data. Best agreement was obtained with a ∼25 times faster photolysis rate of nitrite compared to nitrate. The formation of NO₂ is probably the dominant channel for the nitrate photolysis. We used the reaction mechanism further to investigate the release of NO_x and HONO under natural conditions. We found that NO_x emissions are by far dominated by the release of NO₂. The release of HONO to the gas phase depends on the pH of the snow and the HONO transfer rate to the gas phase. However, due to the small amounts of nitrite produced under natural conditions, the formation of HONO in the QLL is probably negligible. We suggest that observed emissions of HONO from the surface snow are dominated by the heterogeneous formation of HONO in the firn air. The reaction of NO₂ on the surfaces of the ice crystals is the most likely HONO source to the gas phase.     

Coated-wire organic ion-selective electrodes in titrations based on ion-pair formation : Determination of arenediazonium salts with sodium tetraphenylborate

Titrimetric determinations of arenediazonium salts can be based on ion-pair formation between the diazonium cation and tetraphenylborate. Titrations are done under cooling with ice and are followed potentiometrically with organic ion-selective electrodes comprising PVC membranes plasticized with polar solvents and coated on aluminium wires. The method was tested in determinations of arenediazonium salts derived from 20 aromatic amines, including aniline, toluidines, naphthylamines and their derivatives. Except for compounds containing hydrophylic groups such as —COOH and —OH, the potentiometric titration curves have well defined end-points. The results are reproducible, with relative standard deviations in the range 0.4–1.4% at the millimolar level. The method can be used for reliable determinations of arenediazonium salts in analytical control of azo dyestuff production.     

Sequential atomic absorption spectrometric determination of nitrate and nitrite in meats by liquid-liquid extraction in a flow-injection system

Sequential determinations of nitrate and nitrite based on continuous liquid-liquid extraction, and suitable for their routine determinations in meats, are reported. Nitrate reacts with bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthrolinato)copper(I) to form an ion-pair which is extrated into 4-methyl-2-pentanone in a flow-injection manifold. In one aliquot of sample, nitrite is oxidized by cerium(IV), so that total nitrate is determined. In another, nitrite is converted to nitrogen with sulfamic acid, so that only the original nitrate is determined. By measuring the atomic absorption signal of copper in the organic phase, mixtures of these anions can be determined at μg ml^?1 levels for nitrate/nitrite ratios from 10:1 to 1:10, with a sampling frequency of ca. 20 h^–1.     

Determination of nitrate and nitrite in mixtures with a nitrate ion electrode

A rapid method for the determination of nitrate and nitrite ions is described. The potential of a mixture of nitrate and nitrite was measured with a nitrate ion selective electrode. The nitrite in the mixture is then oxidized to nitrate with permanganate in acid solution, and the potential of the oxidized solution is also measured with the electrode. The fundamental equations for the response of the nitrate ion electrode to nitrate ion in the presence of interfering ions were used, and a new equation was developed for calculating the original nitrate concentration of the mixture. The absolute errors for solutions of known concentrations (2.5–100 p.p.m. each) were 1.8 p.p.m. nitrate and 2 p.p.m. nitrite. When the results are calculated by computer, five determinations can be performed in 30 min. The method was applied to the determination of the oxides of nitrogen in cigarette smoke as nitrite and nitrate after dissolution in basic solution.     

An Addition Method for the Direct Ultraviolet Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite in the Presence of a Large Excess of Nitrate

Abstract

The ultraviolet spectra of aqueous nitrite and nitrate solutions and of binary mixtures were obtained. By using an addition technique and a reference nitrate/nitrite solution it was possible to compensate for the interference caused by the overlapping of the nitrate and nitrite bands, which is normally a limiting factor in the analysis of mixtures of nitrite with large excesses of nitrate. The detection limit was 5 × 10^?5 M NO₂ ^? which corresponded to a minimum detectable amount of 2.3 ppm NO₂ ^? in the presence of up to 20,000 times greater amount of NO₃ ^?. The accuracy was ± 0.6% and the standard deviation ± 0. 002.     

An Extractive Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Nitrite Using Fluorescein Amine Isomer I

ABSTRACT

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite using fluorescein amine isomer I is described. The method is based on the formation of azido derivative of fluorescein amine isomer I, which is selectively extracted into 20% iso amyl alcohol in toluene and is stripped to aqueous phase using NaOH. Formation of the azido derivative depends on nitrite concentration and the system obeys Beer's law in the range 0-0.4 ppm of nitrite at 495 nm. The molar absorptivity of the colour system is 6.67 × 10⁴ L mol^-1 cm^-1 with a relative standard deviation of 3% for 10 determinations at 1 μg of nitrite. The proposed method is successfully applied for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in soil, water and radiator coolant sample, NO₂ gas in a laboratory fume cupboard is determined after fixing it as nitrite in sodium arsenite absorber solution.     

Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Thiazolidine-4-Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (thioproline, Thz) and its derivatives 2-propyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (PrThz) and 2-tetrahydroxybutyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (AThz) has been studied by cyclic, normal and reverse pulse, differential pulse and Osteryoung square wave voltam-metrics. Anodic waves, resulting from the formation of adsorbed mercury thiazolidates, were obtained for all the compounds at mercury electrodes in acetate and phosphate buffers at pH from 3.8 to 8. the initially formed mercury compounds rapidly transform into the final products accumulating on the electrode surface. the oxidation products inhibit the anodic processes and distorted voltammetric curves were obtained at the covered electrodes. Various effects of these processes in various pulse voltammetric techniques were evident. Normal pulse voltammograms were least affected by the product transformations. Osteryoung square wave voltammetry permitted very fast determinations of Thz derivatives.     

Flow-injection determination of nitrite and nitrate with biamperometric detection at two platinum wire electrodes

The flow-injection determination of nitrite is based on oxidation of iodide by nitrite. The triiodide formed is detected amperometrically in a flow-through cell with two teflonized graphite or platinum wire electrodes polarized with a voltage of 100 mV. More sensitive and faster response was observed with the platinum wire electrodes. The same detector is used for determination of nitrate after reduction to nitrite in a reductor column containing copperized cadmium. Detection limits under optimized conditions are 6 μg l^?1 for both nitrite- and nitrate-nitrogen. Effects of oxygen and interfering metal ions are discussed.     

Effect of surfactants on the determination of nitrite and nitrate in water samples

Summary The effect of four surfactants on the determination of nitrite and nitrate has been examined. The method which has been tested for nitrite is based on the formation of an azodye. The results show that cationic and non-ionic surfactants do not interfere with the determination of nitrite while anionic surfactants cause significant interferences, which could be eliminated by treating the water samples with a cationic surfactant.Two methods have been tested for the determination of nitrate in the presence of surfactants. One method is based on the nitration of salicyclic acid, while the other is based on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Results for the first method show that the non-ionic surfactant Triton-X causes significant interferences. Cationic and anionic surfactants do not interfere, when their concentration is relatively low. For higher concentrations an increasing interference is observed. Results for the second method show effects similar to those obtained for nitrite.

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Wirkung oberflächenaktiver Substanzen auf die Bestimmung von Nitrit und Nitrat in Wasserproben

     

Spectrophotometric reaction-rate method for the determination of nitrite in waters with pyridine-2-aldehyde 2-pyridylhydrazone

A method for the kinetic determination of submicrogram amounts of nitrite has been developed, based on its acceleration of the rate of bromate oxidation of pyridine-2-aldehyde 2-pyridylhydrazone in acidic medium. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically at 372 nm. A comparative study with hydrochloric acid and perchloric acid media shows that the analytical parameters are affected by the type of acid used. Within-day precision, based on ten replicate determinations, was better than 0.011 μ/ml, which corresponds to 2.2-1.5% relative standard deviation at the concentrations examined. Application of this method in the determination of nitrite in water has been discussed. The recovery of nitrite from drinking waters ranges from 90 to 117% and the average relative standard deviation for nitrite determinations in polluted river water is 3.2%. Large amounts of nitrate and ammonium ions do not interfere. However, there is interference by Cu²⁺, Pd²⁺ and electroactive substances. Major advantages for the method are simplicity, absence of a reagent blank, and the wide determination range.     

The Use of Ultrasound for the Analytical Determination of Nitrite on Diamond Electrodes by Square Wave Voltammetry

Abstract

This work describes an analytical methodology for the determination of nitrite ions in aqueous solutions using boron‐doped diamond electrodes and square wave voltammetry associated with ultrasound radiation. The nitrite ions were oxidized to nitrate ions in Britton‐Robinson buffer solutions 0.1 M, pH 2.0 at 1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl. The voltammetric response of nitrite in the presence of ultrasound showed a peak current five times higher than the obtained in silent conditions. Thus, the detection limit obtained in the presence of radiation was 17 nM (0.782 µg l^?1), a small value if compared with that obtained in the absence of ultrasound: 140 nM (6.44 µg l^?1).     

Steam distillation methods for determination of ammonium,nitrate and nitrite

Steam distillation methods of determining ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite in the presence of alkali-labile organic nitrogen compounds are described. They involve the use of magnesium oxide for distillation of ammonium, ball-milled Devarda alloy for reduction of nitrate and nitrite to ammonium, and sulfamic acid for destruction of nitrite. The methods are rapid, accurate, and precise, and they permit nitrogen isotope-ratio analysis of ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite in tracer studies using ¹⁵N-enriched compounds. They give quantitative recovery of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite added to soil and plant extracts, and appear suitable for analysis of biological materials.     

Flow Injection Biamperometric Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate

Abstract

A simple and efficient FIA method was used with good results to determine nitrite in residual waters and nitrate in natural waters. Nitrite determination is based on the reaction with iodide occurring in acidic medium and biamperometric detection of the formed iodine at two platinum electrodes polarised at a potential of 100 mV. Nitrate is similarly determined after its previous reduction to nitrite in a cadmium column. The method does not need the solution deaeration. However, the calibration graphs present two regions of linearity owing to the catalytic effect of the dissolved oxygen on the iodide oxidation by nitrite.     

Quantification of residual nitrite and nitrate in ham by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector

Nitrite and nitrate are used as additives in ham industry to provide colour, taste and protect against clostridia. The classical colorimetric methods widely used to determine nitrite and nitrate are laborious, suffer from matrix interferences and involve the use of toxic cadmium. The use of chromatography is potentially attractive since it is more rapid, sensitive, selective and provides reliable and accurate results. A rapid and cost-effective RP-HPLC method with diode array detector was optimized and validated for quantification of nitrites and nitrates in ham. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a HyPurity C18, 5 μm chromatographic column and gradient elution with 0.01 M n-octylamine and 5 mM tetrabutylammonium hydrogenosulphate to pH 6.5. The determinations were performed in the linear range of 0.0125–10.0 mg/L for nitrite and 0.0300–12.5 g/L for nitrate. The detection limits were 0.019 and 0.050 mg/kg, respectively. The reliability of the method in terms of precision and accuracy was evaluated. Coefficients of variation lower than 2.89% and 5.47% were obtained for nitrite and nitrate, respectively (n = 6). Recoveries of residual nitrite/nitrate ranged between 93.6% and 104.3%. Analysis of cooked and dried ham samples was performed, and the results obtained were in agreement with reference procedures.     

Surface modification by electrochemical reduction of alkyldiazonium salts

Since alkyldiazonium salts are highly unstable, their grafting is not as easy as that of aryldiazonium salts. However, it is possible to graft alkyl chains on copper electrodes by the in situ reaction of alkyl amines dissolved in aqueous perchloric acid with nitrite ions electrogenerated from nitrate ions.     

Secondary Formation of Aromatic Nitroderivatives of Environmental Concern: Photonitration Processes Triggered by the Photolysis of Nitrate and Nitrite Ions in Aqueous Solution

Aromatic nitroderivatives are compounds of considerable environmental concern, because some of them are phytotoxic (especially the nitrophenols, and particularly 2,4-dinitrophenol), others are mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic (e.g., the nitroderivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as 1-nitropyrene), and all of them absorb sunlight as components of the brown carbon. The latter has the potential to affect the climatic feedback of atmospheric aerosols. Most nitroderivatives are secondarily formed in the environment and, among their possible formation processes, photonitration upon irradiation of nitrate or nitrite is an important pathway that has periodically gained considerable attention. However, photonitration triggered by nitrate and nitrite is a very complex process, because the two ionic species under irradiation produce a wide range of nitrating agents (such as ^•NO₂, HNO₂, HOONO, and H₂OONO⁺), which are affected by pH and the presence of organic compounds and, in turn, deeply affect the nitration of aromatic precursors. Moreover, aromatic substrates can highly differ in their reactivity towards the various photogenerated species, thereby providing different behaviours towards photonitration. Despite the high complexity, it is possible to rationalise the different photonitration pathways in a coherent framework. In this context, this review paper has the goal of providing the reader with a guide on what to expect from the photonitration process under different conditions, how to study it, and how to determine which pathway(s) are prevailing in the formation of the observed nitroderivatives.