2. Water quality control through chemical analyses
Dr. Ariola Devolli
Dr. Mariola Kodra
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

3. NETCHEM Remote Access Laboratory Guide
Determination of ammonia level in water
This lab work is focused on:
Gain experience on determination of ammonia in water
Chemical analysis on spectrophotometer
Calculation of obtained results
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

4. Background
When nitrogenous organic matter is destroyed by microbiological activity, ammonia is produced and is therefore found in many surface and groundwaters.
Higher concentrations occur in water polluted by sewage, fertilizers, agricultural wastes or industrial wastes containing organic nitrogen, free ammonia or ammonium salts.
Certain aerobic bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates.
Ammonia can result from natural reduction processes under anaerobic conditions.
The proportions of the two forms of ammonia nitrogen, i.e. free ammonia and ammonium ions, depend on the pH.
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

5. Methods:
Direct determination of ammonia can be carried out for drinking waters. For accurate results it is preferable to remove ammonia from the sample by distillation.
The ammonia may then be determined either by titration or colorimetrically using Nessler’s reagent.
Direct nesslerisation of the sample is quicker but is subject to considerable interference. The preferred procedure is to remove ammonia from the sample by distillation.
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

6. Sample handling and preservation
The quality of ground water depends on various chemical constituents and their concentration, which are mostly derived from the geological data of the particular region.
Industrial waste and the municipal solid waste have emerged as one of the leading cause of pollution of surface and ground water.
We will determine the level of ammonia in well water (used as drinking water)
The samples were collected in 2-liter polyethylene (PET) bottles, which were washed with deionized water before use. These sample bottles were closed and placed in termobox to avoid any contamination until they arrived at laboratory.
Sample collections were carried out based on standard methods of water quality.
Analysis is performed in Spectrophotometer “SPECORD 200,Plus”, produced by Analytikjena.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

7. Spectrophotometer and Computer
Apparatus required
Specrophotometer for use at 655 nm; Waterbath at 250C; pH meter
Graduated cylinder or equivalent volume measuring device
Volumetric Flasks – 50 mL, 100 mL.
Spectrophotometer and Computer
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

8. Reagents required Distilled water Salicylate reagent
Dichloroisocyanurate reagent
Stock NH4Cl: Dissolve g anhydrous NH4Cl, dried at 105°C, in water and dilute to 1000 mL.
Intermediate standard NH4Cl for Kjeldahl determination: Dilute mL stock solution to 1000 mL
Standard NH4Cl: Dilute mL stock solution to 1000 mL 1.00 mL = 0.01 mg N =10 μg N
Methyl-red indicator
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

9. Material
Samples were collected from private wells in Elbasan city (industrial area) and were tested at laboratory for the determination of heavy metals.
The water to be sampled should be representative of ground water quality. The water runs at full flow from pump for 10 minutes before collecting the sample.
The samples were collected in 2-liter polyethylene (PET) bottles, which were washed with deionized water before use. These sample bottles were closed and placed in termobox to avoid any contamination until they arrived at laboratory.
Sample collections were carried out based on standard methods of water quality.
All chemical reagents used for preparation of the calibration solutions and for sample pretreatment were of analytical grade, Merck, Germany.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

10. Calibration
Make a series of standards by diluting 0; 0.50; 1.00; 2.00; 3.00; 5.00; 7.00 and mL standard solution to 40 mL in a 50 mL volumetric flask
Add 4.0 mL salicylate reagent and mix. Plot the absorbance against μg NH4-N/50 mL end volume.
Determine the mathematical expression for the calibration line.
Preparation of calibration series and samples for ammonia determination in well water
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

11. Procedure:
Bring sample at room temperature and neutralize if necessary.
Pipette the sample (maximum of 40 mL) in a 50 mL volumetric flask and dilute to a maximum of 40 mL
Add 4.0 mL salicylate reagent and mix
Add 4.0 mL of dichloroisocynurate reagent and mix again (pH should be 12.6 ± 0.1)
Fill up to the mark with demi water and mix
Determine the absorbance at 655 nm between 1 and 3 hours.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

12. Calculation:
The colour development depends on the temperature, place the volumetric flasks on a waterbath of 25.0 ± 0.2 °C (if necessary).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

13. DESCRIPTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT
Educational element title
Determination of ammonia level in water
Educational field
Chemistry
Level of study
Master academic studies
Title of course in which Educational element is implemented (lecture or lab exercise)
Food Chemical Analysis
Title of teaching unit
Water quality control through chemical analyses
Teacher
PhD Ariola Devolli, PhD Mariola Kodra
Target group (study program, year of study)
Master Study Programme –Food Analysis, 1st year
Educational objectives of educational element
The chemist shows how to perform the determination of ammonia in water with spectrophotometer
Required preliminary knowledge and skills
Basic knowledge of chemistry and experimental procedures and methods
Material available at Moodle platform for the educational element:
Type (.mp4/.avi/.ppt/.pdf/.doc/.jpeg …):
Size (MB):
Used language in the material:
Video clip (.mp4)
16 MB
english
Remote access classroom-laboratory No
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

14. DESCRIPTION OF REMOTE ACCESS NETCHEM COMMUNICATION SIDES
(NOTE: NETCHEM Communication is defined as event that involves all kinds of internet interactions (in real time and not in real time) between participants via devices (PCs, laptops, tablets andmobilephones))
host side
(NOTE: Host side of NETCHEM Communication is defined as PC who invites other users to join the session)
guest side
(NOTE: Guest side of NETCHEM Communication is defined as PC who joins the invitation to session)
COMMUNICATION SOFWARE
Team Viewer
Meeting:
Remote control:
Meeting and Remote control simultaneously:
Skype
Call 1:1:
Conference Call:
COMUNICATION HARDWARE
on host side
on guest side
INFORMATION EXCHANGE TYPE
Educational (one side is dominantly receptive)
Place of Educator participant:
Number of educator(s):
Place of student participant:
Number of student participant(s):
Consultative (two sides are equal in giving-receiving information)
Number of host side participant(s):
Number of guest side participant(s):
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

15. Author, Editor and Referee References
This remote access laboratory was created thanks to work done primarily at University of Niš.
Contributors to this material were: PhD Ariola Devolli & PhD Mariola Kodra, full professors
Refereeing of this material was done by: _____________________
Editing into NETCHEM Format and onto NETCHEM platform was completed by: ______________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

16. References and Supplemental Material
The NETCHEM platform was established at the University of Nis in through the Erasmus Programme. Please contact a NETCHEM representatives at your institution or visit our website for an expanded contact list. The work included had been led by the NETCHEM staff at your institution.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.