Simultaneous determination of inorganic nitrogen species by microcolumn ion chromatography

Inorganic nitrogen species (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions) were simultaneously determined by microcolumn ion chromatography. Nitrate and nitrite were determined by UV detection at 206 nm, whereas ammonium ion was determined by fluorescence detection at excitation 410 nm and emission 470 nm. The latter fluorescence detection is based on the postcolumn reaction of ammonium ion with o-phthalaldehyde in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Effects of the reagent concentration, pH, and other reaction conditions on the signal intensity were examined, and the optimum condition was explored. The present method allowed simultaneous determination of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions in river water.