Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses

The study addresses the importance of treating wastewater, such as water from human activities (domestic, industrial, agricultural), before it is discharged into the environment. The presence of nitrate and nitrite ions in these waters is a concern, as they are harmful to human health. The objectiv...

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Main Authors: Cherrine Kelce Pires, Efraim Lázaro Reis, Maria Isabel Cristina Batista Mayrink, Gabriel Henrique Sperandio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) 2024-12-01
Series:The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://periodicos.ufv.br/jcec/article/view/20766
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author Cherrine Kelce Pires
Efraim Lázaro Reis
Maria Isabel Cristina Batista Mayrink
Gabriel Henrique Sperandio
author_facet Cherrine Kelce Pires
Efraim Lázaro Reis
Maria Isabel Cristina Batista Mayrink
Gabriel Henrique Sperandio
author_sort Cherrine Kelce Pires
collection DOAJ
description The study addresses the importance of treating wastewater, such as water from human activities (domestic, industrial, agricultural), before it is discharged into the environment. The presence of nitrate and nitrite ions in these waters is a concern, as they are harmful to human health. The objective of this study is to evaluate different analytical techniques to measure the amount of these ions in industrial effluents and river water. The water samples were collected in Timóteo, a region with steel industries. The collections were made at three treatment points of a steel industry and at different points of the Timotinho Stream. These samples were filtered and analyzed in the laboratory using three different techniques, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, Potentiometry with ion-selective electrodes and Differential Pulse Voltammetry. The results showed that all three techniques analyzed were effective in determining nitrite and nitrate in the water samples. However, there were some important considerations: UV-Vis spectrophotometry is quite accurate, but can be affected by interferences in the sample, such as the presence of other substances that absorb light at the same wavelength; potentiometry with ion-selective electrodes, despite being a simpler and lower-cost technique, also presented good results. Because it is more affordable, it is considered an excellent option for use in routine analyses, especially in places where resources are limited; and finally, differential pulse voltammetry, which is a more complex technique, but offers high sensitivity and can be useful in cases where very low concentrations of ions need to be detected. It is concluded that all three techniques can be used to measure nitrate and nitrite in industrial effluents and river waters, with variations in choice depending on the context. This is the main idea of ??the study: to identify effective techniques for measuring hazardous contaminants (such as nitrate and nitrite) in wastewater, choosing the most appropriate technique based on accuracy, sensitivity, and cost.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2527-1075
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)
record_format Article
series The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences
spelling doaj-art-230b6be2838e48658266a0a216cea1f72025-02-02T19:53:12ZengUniversidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences2527-10752024-12-0110710.18540/jcecvl10iss7pp20766Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercoursesCherrine Kelce Pires0Efraim Lázaro Reis1Maria Isabel Cristina Batista Mayrink2Gabriel Henrique Sperandio3Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFederal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil Dynamic Faculty of Vale do Piranga, Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, BrazilFederal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil The study addresses the importance of treating wastewater, such as water from human activities (domestic, industrial, agricultural), before it is discharged into the environment. The presence of nitrate and nitrite ions in these waters is a concern, as they are harmful to human health. The objective of this study is to evaluate different analytical techniques to measure the amount of these ions in industrial effluents and river water. The water samples were collected in Timóteo, a region with steel industries. The collections were made at three treatment points of a steel industry and at different points of the Timotinho Stream. These samples were filtered and analyzed in the laboratory using three different techniques, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, Potentiometry with ion-selective electrodes and Differential Pulse Voltammetry. The results showed that all three techniques analyzed were effective in determining nitrite and nitrate in the water samples. However, there were some important considerations: UV-Vis spectrophotometry is quite accurate, but can be affected by interferences in the sample, such as the presence of other substances that absorb light at the same wavelength; potentiometry with ion-selective electrodes, despite being a simpler and lower-cost technique, also presented good results. Because it is more affordable, it is considered an excellent option for use in routine analyses, especially in places where resources are limited; and finally, differential pulse voltammetry, which is a more complex technique, but offers high sensitivity and can be useful in cases where very low concentrations of ions need to be detected. It is concluded that all three techniques can be used to measure nitrate and nitrite in industrial effluents and river waters, with variations in choice depending on the context. This is the main idea of ??the study: to identify effective techniques for measuring hazardous contaminants (such as nitrate and nitrite) in wastewater, choosing the most appropriate technique based on accuracy, sensitivity, and cost. https://periodicos.ufv.br/jcec/article/view/20766NitriteNitrateIndustrial effluentsWatercoursesSpectrophotometryPotentiometry
spellingShingle Cherrine Kelce Pires
Efraim Lázaro Reis
Maria Isabel Cristina Batista Mayrink
Gabriel Henrique Sperandio
Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences
Nitrite
Nitrate
Industrial effluents
Watercourses
Spectrophotometry
Potentiometry
title Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
title_full Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
title_fullStr Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
title_short Comparison of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
title_sort comparison of spectrophotometric potentiometric and voltammetric methodologies for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in industrial effluents and in watercourses
topic Nitrite
Nitrate
Industrial effluents
Watercourses
Spectrophotometry
Potentiometry
url https://periodicos.ufv.br/jcec/article/view/20766
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