2.3.

4 Ammonia (Method 8038)

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.

APPARATUS:

1mL Serological Ammonia Nitrogen Deionized Water

Pipet Reagent Set

25mL Mixing 10mL Sample Cell

Cylinder with
stopper
PROCEDURE:

STA
RT
1. Start program 2. Prepare the 3. Prepare the 4. Add 3 drops of
380 N, sample: Fill a blank: Fill a Mineral Stabilizer
Ammonia, Ness. mixing cylinder to mixing cylinder to to each mixing
the 25- mL line the 25-mL line with cylinder.
with sample deionized water

5. Put the stopper 6.Add 3 drops of 7.Put the stopper on 8. Use a pipet to
on the mixing Polyvinyl Alcohol the mixing add 1.0mL of
cylinders, Invert Dispersing Agent cylinders. Invert the Nessler Reagent to
the mixing to mixing cylinder mixing cylinders each mixing
cylinders several several times to mix cylinder
times to mix.

9. Put the stopper 10. Start the 11. Pour 10 mL 12. When the timer
on the mixing instrument timer. from the blank expires, clean the
cylinders. Invert A 1-minute cylinder into a blank sample cell.
the mixing reaction time sample cell.
cylinders several starts.
times to mix.
 ZER
O
13. Insert the blank 14. Push ZERO. 15. Pour 10mL 16. Clean the
into the cell holder. The display shows from the sample prepared sample
0.00 mg/L NH3–N. cylinder into a cell.
second sample
cell.

REA
D
17. Insert the 18. Push READ.
prepared sample Results show in
into the cell mg/L NH3–N
holder.

RESULT:

Sample Reading of sample (mg/L)

1 0.00

2 0.23
Table 1: Result of Ammonia Nitrogen (AN)
SUB INDEX CALCULATION

Sub-index for NH3N, x=0.23

SIAN = 100.5 – 105x : for x ≤ 0.3

SIAN = 100.5 – 105(0.23)
= 76.34

DISCUSSION:
Based on the result obtained, the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen is 0.23 mg/L.
For the sample blank shows the reading which is 0.00 mg/L is because the Nessler reagent,
polyvinyl alcohol and mineral stabilizer were not added. This step was done in order to
reduce error and calibrate the machine before taking measurement of ammonia-nitrogen
concentration in samples. Since the amount of the ammonia nitrogen is in the range of 0.1
mg/L to 0.3mg/L, thus we can say that the lake water belongs to category ‘class II’.

From table 1.3(Water classes and uses), the lake water which belongs to ‘class II’
category requires conventional treatment. Besides that, it can be used as fishery for sensitive
species and recreational use with body contact. Lastly, DOE water quality classification
based on water quality index is classified as slightly poluted based on result of sub index that
have been calculated which is 76.34.

CONCLUSION:
From the result obtained from the ammoniacal nitrogen test experiment, it shows that
the result is 0.23 mg/L which is within the range of 0.10 mg/L to 0.30 mg/L, thus we deduce
that the lake water is Class II based on DOE Water Quality Index Classification. The lake
water requires conventional treatment and can be used as fishery for sensitive species as well
as recreational users with body contact.

APPENDICES:
 Figure 4.1 sample preparation Figure 4.2 drops of polyvinyl alcohol

Figure 4.3 Nessler reagent Figure 4.4 Mixing process

Figure 4.5 Reading of the blank specimen Figure 4.6 Reading of the Ammonia specimen