A New Fluorescence Method for Determination of Ammonium Nitrogen in Aquatic Environment Using Derivatization with Benzyl Chloride

Abstract

We introduce a novel approach in simple and highly sensitive fluorometric determination of ammonium nitrogen. The proposed method is based on a fluorescence derivatization with benzyl chloride. The benzyl chloride was converted to a new fluorescent derivative by reaction with ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) in the presence of sodium bicarbonate. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 258 and 284 nm, respectively. The effects of benzyl chloride concentration, sodium bicarbonate concentration, reaction temperature and time, and hydrochloric acid concentration were studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions of the experiment, the linear range for determination of ammonium nitrogen was 0.01-0.60 mg L -1 , and the detection limit was 0.008 mg L -1. Relative standard deviation of eleven measurements for 0.40 mg L -1 NH 4 + -N was 2.6%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ammonium nitrogen concentration in different water samples. The mechanism of the derivatization was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra.

Methods for the Detection and Remediation of Ammonia from Aquaculture Effluent: A Review

“…In this method, alkaline sample was introduced into purified argon to eject the ammonia from the solution into the gaseous phase and analysed with the OPA method. Recently, Cao and co-workers introduced a new approach by reacting benzylchloride with ammonium and sodiumbicarbonate, where a new fluorescent derivative was produced upon excitation and emission at 258 nm and 284 nm respectively [52]. The advantages of this method include low cost, high sensitivity, selectivity, relatively short analysis time, etc [53].…”

High throughput determination of ammonium and primary amine compounds in environmental and food samples

“…Several methods have been proposed for the analysis of ammonium [10], such as spectrophotometry [11,12,13], ion selective electrode [14], fluorimetry [15,16] or ion chromatography [17]. Primary amines/amino acids are generally analyzed individually by liquid chromatography [18,19], but methods have also been developed to measure the total concentrations of these compounds in order to have a rapid and global assay of these important nitrogen compounds.…”