Nitrogen, Ammonia For Water, Wastewater, And Seawater

Ammonia is a product of the microbiological decay of animal and plant protein. It can be directly reused by plants to produce protein. Ammonia and ammonia compounds are applied directly as fertilizers.

The presence of ammonia nitrogen in surface water usually indicates domestic pollution. Ammonia in ground water is normal and is due to microbiological processes. Two methods for determining ammonia, the Nessler method and the Salicylate method, are used in Hach products and procedures.

In the ammonia test, Nessler Reagent (K2HgI4) reacts with the ammonia present in the sample (under strongly alkaline conditions) to produce a yellow-colored species. The intensity of the color is in direct proportion to the ammonia concentration.