Method - Nesslerization

General Discussion: - Use direct nesslerization only for purified drinking water natural
water and highly purified waste water effluent. All of which should be low in colour
and have NH3-N concentrations exceeding 20 ug/l.
Pretreatment before direct nesslerization with zinc sulphate and alkali precipitates
calcium, iron, magnesium and sulphate which from turbidity when treated with nessler
regent. Addition of EDTA or Rochelle salt solution inhibits precipitation of residual
calcium and magnesium ions in the presence of the alkaline nessler reagent use of
EDTA and extra amount of nessler reagent to insure a sufficient nessler reagent for
reaction with the ammonia reaction absorb strongly over a wide wave length range.
Reagents
1. Zinc Sulfate Solution: - Dissolve 100 g ZnSO4.7H2O and dilute to 1 litre with distilled
water.
2. Stabilizer Reagent: - Use either EDTA or Rochelle salt to prevent calcium or
magnesium precipitation in undistilled sample after addition of alkaline nessler reagent.
3. EDTA Reagent: - Dissolve 50 g. disodium ethylne diamineteracetate dehydrate in 60-ml
water containing 10 g. NaOH. If necessary, apply gently heat to complete dissolution.
Cool and dilute to 100 ml with distilled water.
4. Rochelle Salt Solution: - Dissolve 50 g. potassium, sodium tartrate tetrahydrate,
KnaC4H4O6.4H2O, in 100 ml distilled water. Remove ammonia usually present in the
salt by boiling off 30 ml of solution. After cooling dilute to 100 ml.
5. Nessler Reagent: - Dissolve 100 g. Hgl2 and 70 g. Kl in a small quantity of distilled
water and add this mixture slowly with stirring to cool soluton of 160 g. NaOH
dissolved in 500 ml water. Dilute to 1 litre.
6. Stock Ammonium Solution: - Dissolve 3.819 g. anhydrous NH4Cl, dried at 100 degree
C, in dilute to 1000 ml.