A gas chromatographic method for the determination of nitrite ions in natural waters.
Following the treatment of the sample with zinc hydroxide, nitrite reacts with potassium iodide in the presence of acetone and sulphuric acid. The released iodine and the propanone derivative resulting from the acetone are extracted in n-hexane. The extract is subjected to gas chromatographic separation and detection using an electron capture detector. The calibration curve was found to be linear up to a concentration of 2.5 mg 1(-1) NO(-)(2). The detection limit calculated from the threefold noise level and the slope of the calibration curve is 0.008 mg 1(-1). The relative standard deviation (including that of the blank) was less than 8%. The reliability of the method is adequate for practical uses. Amongst the advantages is that the method does not require the use of exceedingly toxic reagents. On the other hand, the method is applicable for samples that even after being subjected to clarification procedures still do not become fully transparent.
Sarudi
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Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Animal Science, Pannon Agricultural University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
Nagy
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