A new ASTM International standard will help calculate the amount of nitrogen in water samples in a more efficient way. The test method (soon to be published as D8083, Test Method for Total Nitrogen, and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) by Calculation, in Water by High-Temperature Catalytic Combustion and Chemiluminescence Detection) was developed by ASTM International’s D19 committee on water. Specifically, the test method helps measure the amount of total nitrogen and total dissolved nitrogen in surface water, seawater, groundwater, wastewater and more. It will help labs that analyze total nitrogen, organic nitrogen or total kjeldahl nitrogen. Importantly, the test method speeds the analysis process, giving total nitrogen results every five minutes. In addition, it requires smaller water samples and only one reagent (dilute HCl). The standard measures total nitrogen as a single number, using high-temperature oxidation followed by chemiluminescence detection.
