Journal article

Development of a passive sampler based on a polymer inclusion membrane for total ammonia monitoring in freshwaters

MIGS Almeida, AML Silva, RA Coleman, VJ Pettigrove, RW Cattrall, SD Kolev

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry | SPRINGER HEIDELBERG | Published : 2016

Abstract

A passive sampler for determining the time-weighted average total ammonia (i.e. molecular ammonia and the ammonium cation) concentration (C TWA) in freshwaters, which incorporated a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) as a semi-permeable barrier separating the aqueous source solution from the receiving solution (i.e. 0.8 mol L-1 HCl), was developed for the first time. The PIM was composed of dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNS) as a carrier, poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) as a base polymer and 1-tetradecanol as a modifier. Its optimal composition was found to be 35 wt% commercial DNNS, 55 wt% PVC and 10 wt% 1-tetradecanol. The effect of environmental variables such as the water matrix, pH and t..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Australian Research Council and Melbourne Water Corporation for providing funding for this research (Linkage Project 110200595); the Brazilian National Research Council for providing a 12-month Postdoctoral Fellowship to Adelia Maria Lima da Silva (Process N.236607/2012-0, Science without Borders Program); Mr. Les Gamel for making the glass devices; Mr. Daniel MacMahon (Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management) for assistance with the field application of the passive samplers; and Mr. Sam Ludbrook (Chemiplas Australia) for providing DNNS from King Industries.