Differential pulse polarographic determination of nitrate in environmental materials

Abstract Nitrate can be determined with reliable accuracy and sensitivity by differential pulse polarography utilizing the catalytic reaction between nitrate and uranyl ion in the presence of potassium sulphate. The differential pulse polarographic peak-height is proportional to nitrate concentration from 1 to 50 μ M . The calculated detection limit for nitrate is 8 × 10 −7 M in pure aqueous solution. The method has been applied to determination of nitrate in fresh snow, and river waters and animal feeds.