EPA Method 350.2

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EPA Method 350.2:
Ammonia by Colorimetry (Nesslerization). Official Name: Nitrogen, Ammonia (Colorimetric; Titrimetric; Potentiometric - Distillation Procedure)

Summary:
A sample is buffered at alkaline pH with borate buffer to decrease hydrolysis of cyanates and organic nitrogen compounds, and is distilled into a solution of boric acid. The ammonia distillate is determined colorimetrically by Nesslerization, or by other options given in the method.

Scope:
This method determines ammonia, exclusive of Kjeldahl nitrogen, in drinking, surface, and saline waters; domestic and industrial wastes.

Citation:
Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes (MCAWW) (EPA/600/4-79/020)

Interferences:
(A) Compounds 1: Many aromatics, aliphatic amines, and other compounds can cause turbidity upon reaction with Nessler reagent. Distillation is used prior to analysis to reduce/eliminate interferences.(B) Compounds 2: Volatile alkaline compounds (some ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols) can effect Nesslerization. Some compounds (e.g., formaldehyde) can be removed prior to to distillation by boiling off at low pH.(C) Cyanate: Cyanate can hydrolyze during distillation.(B) Residual Chlorine: Remove residual chlorine using sodium thiosulfate.

QC Requirements:
None.

Maximum Holding Time:
28 days (MCAWW, Table 1).

Media:
WATER

Subcategory:
Inorganic

Concentration:
0.05 - 1.0 mg/L ammonia as nitrogen (colorimetric)

Precision:
Precision and accuracy values were calculated using interlaboratory data from EPA-managed Water Pollution (WP) performance evaluation studies.

Detection:
None.

Revision Number:
Editorial Revision 1974

Test Description:
Ammonia (as N) -Colo

Report Number:
600/4-79-020

Instrument used for this test:
FIA