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Page 7: Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Ammonia

Part II. Science and Technical Considerations - Continued

6.0 Analytical methods

There are several methods for the analysis of ammonia in drinking water, based on colorimetry, titration and potentiometry procedures. The major factors that influence the selection of an analytical method are the expected ammonia concentration and the presence of interferences such as glycine, urea, cyanates, hydrazine and amines.

In the colorimetric method, the intensity of colour developed in the reaction between ammonia and phenol is proportional to the ammonia concentration in the sample. The titration procedure uses a colour indicator, and the amount of acid used to titrate is proportional to the amount of ammonia present. The ammonia-selective electrode method is probably the easiest to perform. The change in electrical potential at the electrode is proportional to the ammonia concentration. Compared with titrimetric methods, this method applies over a larger range of concentrations and is more sensitive.

Preliminary distillation can be used to prepare samples when they contain interfering ions or when the samples are turbid. In treated drinking water, if the sample is likely to contain residual chlorine, a dechlorinating agent should be used to remove the chlorine before analysis.

6.1 U.S. EPA methods and Standard Methods

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has three methods for the determination of ammonia in drinking water (U.S. EPA, 1983, 1993):

  • Method 350.1 is a semi-automated colorimetric method (phenate method), based on the reaction between ammonia and phenol, where the intensity of the reaction product (indophenol blue) is proportional to the ammonia concentration. The method is suitable for ammonia concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 2.0 mg NH3-N/L. (U.S. EPA, 1993). The MDL is not stated in the method, but is identified as 0.01 mg/L by the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI, 2010).
  • Method 350.2, which uses either colorimetry (nesslerization) or titrimetry procedures, has MDLs of 0.05 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L, respectively (NEMI, 2010). Thus, titrimetry procedures are preferred for ammonia concentrations greater than 1.0 mg NH3-N/L/L, whereas colorimetry procedures are preferred for concentrations below 1.0 mg NH3-N/L/L (U.S. EPA, 1983).
  • Method 350.3 determines ammonia concentration potentiometrically using an ion-selective electrode equipped with a hydrophobic gas-permeable membrane. The method is suitable for ammonia concentrations ranging from 0.03 mg/L to 1400 mg NH3-N/L and has an MDL of 0.03 mg/L (U.S. EPA, 1983).
    In addition, the following Standard Methods are recognized for the determination of ammonia in drinking water (NEMI, 2010):
  • Method 4500-NH3 C (APHA et al., 2005) is a titrimetric method equivalent to U.S. EPA Method 350.2. The volume of sample aliquot for distillation can be adjusted to match the known or expected range of ammonia concentration. The applicable range for ammonia determination using this method is from 5 to 100 mg NH3-N/L.
  • Method 4500-NH3 D (APHA et al., 2005), which uses an ammonia-selective electrode, is equivalent to U.S. EPA Method 350.3 and is applicable to the measurement of 0.03 to 1400 mg NH3-N/L. Method 4500-NH3 E is an alternative ammonia-selective electrode method. This method uses the prior addition of a known concentration of ammonia and is applicable when the relationship between the ammonia concentration and the associated potential measured is linear.
  • Method 4500-NH3 F (APHA et al., 2005) is a phenate method similar to U.S. EPA Method 350.1. The intensity of the blue indophenol dye, a reaction product, is proportional to the concentration of ammonia and is measured at 640 nm using a spectrophotometer. This method has a linear analytical response to 0.6 mg NH3-N/L.
  • Methods 4500-NH3 G and 4500-NH3 H (APHA et al., 2005) are two continuous-flow automated versions of the phenate method, where the blue colour is intensified with sodium nitroprusside and nitroferricyanide, respectively. Method 4500-NH3 G is applicable in the range of 0.02 to 2.00 mg NH3-N/L.

6.2 Other available methods

ASTM Method D1426-03 A is equivalent to U.S. EPA Method 350.2. Method D1426-03 B uses an ion-selective electrode procedure as in U.S. EPA Method 350.3 and Standard Methods 4500-NH3 D and 4500-NH3 E (ASTM, 2003).

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that Methods I-2522-90 and I-2525-89, which are colorimetric methods, use a rapid flow analyser, coupled with a potentiometric recorder (NEMI, 2010). Ammonia reacts with hypochlorite and salicylate ions in the presence of ferricyanide ions to form the salicylic analogue of indophenol, which is measured at 660 nm. Method I-2525-89 is applicable to low ionic strength water and an ammonia concentration range of 0.002-0.30 mg/L, whereas Method I-2522-90 applies to a concentration range of 0.01-1.5 mg/L. No substances found in natural water appear to interfere with Method I-2525-89; however, sulphide, bromide, nitrite, calcium or magnesium in highly alkaline waters may interfere with ammonia determination using Method I-2522-90.

Direct-reading instruments are being made available commercially. The analysers are designed under electrical conductivity, potentiometry or colorimetry principles, as well as aerosol formation detection systems and infrared photoacoustics.

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