Comparison of the Total Nitrogen Determination Methods

총질소 분석방법의 비교

Among the many parameters describing water quality, total nitrogen content(TN) is regarded as important one in relation to water quality management of the waterbodies for its role in eutrophication process. This study evaluated for accuracy, convenience and promptness of nitrogen analysis methods : (1)UV spectrophotometric method, (2)summation method, (3)cadmium reduction method. And, the detection limit of each method was calculated using EPA method. The UV spectrophotometric method after oxidation appears to be more convenient and accurate in determination of the TN contents than the summation method and cadmium reduction method. The summation method is necessary to separate determinations of the organic nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. And, because summation method has many other methods for each contents, it can be detected for wide range of concentration.