title: Open-Source Photometric System for Enzymatic Nitrate Quantification.
abstract: Nitrate, the most oxidized form of nitrogen, is regulated to protect people and animals from harmful levels as there is a large over abundance due to anthropogenic factors. Widespread field testing for nitrate could begin to address the nitrate pollution problem, however, the Cadmium Reduction Method, the leading certified method to detect and quantify nitrate, demands the use of a toxic heavy metal. An alternative, the recently proposed Environmental Protection Agency Nitrate Reductase Nitrate-Nitrogen Analysis Method, eliminates this problem but requires an expensive proprietary spectrophotometer. The development of an inexpensive portable, handheld photometer will greatly expedite field nitrate analysis to combat pollution. To accomplish this goal, a methodology for the design, development, and technical validation of an improved open-source water testing platform capable of performing Nitrate Reductase Nitrate-Nitrogen Analysis Method. This approach is evaluated for its potential to i) eliminate the need for toxic chemicals in water testing for nitrate and nitrite, ii) reduce the cost of equipment to perform this method for measurement for water quality, and iii) make the method easier to carryout in the field. The device is able to perform as well as commercial proprietary systems for less than 15% of the cost for materials. This allows for greater access to the technology and the new, safer nitrate testing technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Wittbrodt
authors.affiliation: The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc., Lake Linden, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.affiliation: The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc., Lake Linden, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walbeck
authors.affiliation: The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc., Lake Linden, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc., Lake Linden, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D050901:Nitrate Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D050901:Nitrate Reductase