The efficiency of the ILUV oxidation method for organic nitrogen analysis

Abstract

A new approach to measure dissolved organic nitrogen in fresh waters was developed as an alternative to more expensive techniques, such as traditional UV oxidation and high temperature oxidation and to more labor-intensive techniques that produce hazardous by-products, such as persulfate oxidation. The new approach, called the individual lamp UV (ILUV) method, was applied to model compounds and humic substances. For the selected model compounds, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, glycine and urea, the ILUV oxidation method resulted in 93% to 114% recoveries. In the case of humic substances, the recoveries ranged from 100% to 126%. It was found that the ILUV method is a simple, cheap and promising method for determination of DON in natural waters.