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Multiple Wavelength Ultraviolet Determinations of Nitrate Concentration, Method Comparisons from the Preakness Brook Monitoring Project, October 2005 to October 2006

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Abstract

The direct spectrophotometric analysis of aqueous nitrates is a simple analytical procedure but prone to interferences. A twelve-month study of the Preakness Brook in Wayne Township, New Jersey demonstrated that two wavelength, three wavelength, and second derivative calculation methods provide very different results from the same ultraviolet absorption spectrum. On average, the two wavelength and second derivative methods yielded the same concentration at each sample point over the entire study period. These methods provided concentration results closest to those obtained by ion chromatography and significantly lower than the three wavelength computation method. The degree of variation between the different computation methods was not consistent as it rose with increasing absorbances at wavelengths associated with interfering compounds. This variation was especially pronounced between May and August.

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank the members of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Montclair State, especially Dr. Pamela Delany and Dr. James Dyer who generously shared their laboratory space and supplies. The Montclair State University Earth and Environmental Sciences Department provided ion chromatography. Dr. Marc Kasner furnished invaluable assistance with the second derivative calculations. Caleb Faruki, Chris Newkirk, and Adam Weiss of the Weston Science Scholars program performed the aerial photograph interpretation.

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  1. Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University, Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

    Kevin K. Olsen

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  1. Kevin K. Olsen
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Correspondence to Kevin K. Olsen.

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Olsen, K.K. Multiple Wavelength Ultraviolet Determinations of Nitrate Concentration, Method Comparisons from the Preakness Brook Monitoring Project, October 2005 to October 2006. Water Air Soil Pollut 187, 195–202 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9508-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9508-8

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