Direct measurement of nutrient concentrations in freshwaters with a miniaturized analytical probe: evaluation and validation

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2017-04, Vol.189 (4), p.144-144, Article 144
• Main Authors: Copetti, D., Valsecchi, L., Capodaglio, A. G., Tartari, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Creeks & streams; Design; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Fresh Water - analysis; Fresh Water - chemistry; Instrumentation; Laboratories; Laboratory methods; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Nutrient concentrations; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus content; Rain; Regression analysis; Rivers; Sewage; Sewage - analysis; Studies; Surface water; Water - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water quality; Water sampling; Watersheds
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-5847-0

This work deals with the evaluation of the aqueous concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP), and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH 4 ) in surface water by means of direct online instrumentation. A portable, submersible, and automated analyzer designed to measure dissolved and total nutrient concentrations characterized by miniaturization of the entire analytical process was tested against laboratory methods. A total number of 36 water samples of different origin (i.e., rain, river, lake, and sewage waters) were analyzed and used in the comparison of DRP, TP, and N-NH 4 data. Raw data were distributed in a broad range of concentrations: 5–299 μg P/L for DRP, 7–97 μg P/L for TP, and 11–332 μg N/L for N-NH 4 . Regression analysis underlined a high significant correlation between the measures of the probe and those of the laboratory (0.6