Nitrate-Hach

Reagents & Equipment

  • Colorimeter with 400 nm LED (part # COLOR-400)

  • Cuvettes (macro or semi-macro)

  • NitraVer 5 Nitrate Reagent for 10 mL samples, Hach cat # 21061-69

  • Stir plate and stir bar for mixing

  • 1 mL pipette

  • Small beaker

  • (Optional) Distilled water for sample dilutions

Colorimeter set-up

  • Wavelength: 400 nm

  • Nitrate standard data: Mid-range works well (0 - 80 ppm NO3). Download a data file or prepare your own nitrate standard data

  • Before measuring blank the colorimeter against water or a distilled water sample developed with NitraVer 5 reagent as described below

Method

  • Transfer 10 mL of water sample to a small beaker with a stir bar and place on stir plate.

  • Add the contents of a packet of NitraVer5 to the beaker and start mixing.

  • After 1 minute, take the beaker off the stir plate. Remove the stir bar.

  • Wait at least 5 mins for the color to develop.

  • Pour some of the sample into a cuvette, place in the colorimeter and click measure. The program will return the nitrate concentration in ppm.