Compact ion chromatography systems provide a simple and low-cost method of determining nitrate and phosphate content in fertiliser solutions
Nitrogen and phosphorus are both present in fertilisers, and these can easily and affordably be analysed as nitrate and phosphate using the Compact IC systems from Metrohm.
In recent years there has been concern that the quantity of fertilisers is having a detrimental impact on the environment.
The nutrients applied to the crops are not always taken up immediately, and there is the fear that some farmers may be applying inappropriate quantities of fertiliser.
The nutrients can leak over time to their surrounding environment when subjected to heavy quantities of rainfall which allow the minerals to run-off the land or leach through the soil and cause pollution.
The Metrohm Compact Class includes all the components that an efficient IC requires: dual piston pump, pulse dampener, electromagnetic injection valve, peristaltic pump, high performance detector, and eluent organiser as well as data acquisition and processing module.
All parts that come into contact with the eluent and sample are metal free.
The Metrohm MSM anion suppressor comes with a ten-year warranty and is both pressure and transition metal resistant, compatible with organics, and automatically regenerated offline - ensuring that there is no down-time required for maintenance or replacement of electrolytic suppressors.
The system requires no costly eluent cartridges or overhead gases - simply basic laboratory reagents costing less than 7p(UK) per 47 hours of continuous analysis and a supply of ultra-pure deionised water.
The European Union has a directive that states that ground and fresh water supplies do not exceed 50 mgl-1 of nitrate and, with the Metrohm Compact IC, this can affordably and reliably be verified, says the company.
Sample preparation is easy, simply a dilution with ultra-pure deionised water, and the whole process can easily be automated with the use of a Metrohm autosampler to maximise sample throughput and further reduce running costs.
