Ammonium nitrogen is an inorganic nitrogen compound commonly present in raw water and untreated sewage. Deposition of nitrogen compounds results in acidification and eutrophication of land and water, which is harmful to the environment and nature. Elevated concentrations of ammonium in drinking water may lead to the formation of nitrite.
Ammonium nitrogen is an important parameter measured in milligram per liter, to indicate water quality in water treatment systems and facilities. The measurement of ammonium nitrogen NH4-N is crucial for landfill leachate and in waste products, such as sewage, liquid manure and other liquid organic waste products. Ammonium nitrogen can also be used as a measure of the health of water in natural bodies such as rivers or lakes, or in manmade water reservoirs.
Ammonium nitrogen can be determined by using colorimetric techniques and ion-selective electrodes (ISE):
- Traditional colorimetric techniques use a reagent, that requires time-consuming steps such as sampling and preparation.
- Ion-selective electrodes (ISE) method is often recommended if direct real-time measurement is required. ISE sensors are cost-effective for applications that require periodic ammonium nitrogen measurements. An ISE sensor can be connected to an on-line analyzer installed on site (ie IUNI-21 Universal Transmitter) or a portable handheld analyzer for real-time measurement.
Ammonium is regulated by the EU Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC).
