Direct determination of ammonium-nitrogen by flame emission spectrometry in a hydrogen-nitrogen diffusion flame

Abstract

A method for the determination of trace amounts of ammonium ion in aqueous solution has been developed that utilises the chemiluminescent emission at 336.0 nm of the NH species produced when ammonia gas generated from alkaline sample solutions is introduced into a hydrogen-nitrogen diffusion flame.

The method has been applied successfully to the determination of the exchangeable ammonium-nitrogen content of soils. A practical detection limit of 0.2 µg ml^–1 has been obtained for a 5-ml sample.