Nitrate Detection via Copper Oxidation and Ion Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nitrate measurement methods are prone to user error, require toxic metals like cadmium, and involve costly containment and disposal, limiting their effectiveness and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a cation exchange resin to produce nitric acid, which reacts with copper metal to form copper(II) cations, reduced to copper(I) using a reagent, and measured using a colorimetric indicator to determine nitrate concentration through absorbance changes or transfer functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional nitrate measurement methods are used, then nitrate concentration can be determined, but user error increases and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (mixing, timing, visual color matching) with an automated optical detection system. The system uses a light source, detector, and computer to automatically measure absorbance and calculate nitrate concentration, eliminating user error in manual operations while improving measurement precision through consistent, repeatable automated measurements.
2Ease of manufacture
If toxic metals like cadmium are used for nitrate measurement, then measurement can be performed, but safety hazards increase and disposal costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes toxic metals (cadmium, mercury, lead) from the nitrate measurement system entirely. Instead, it uses a safe copper-based chemical reaction combined with optical detection. This extraction eliminates safety hazards and disposal costs while preserving the essential measurement capability through an alternative non-toxic methodology.
3Productivity
If manual nitrate measurement procedures are used, then measurement can be performed, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated measurement capability where the system can process multiple samples sequentially without interruption. The automated liquid handling, continuous light absorption measurements, and automatic data processing enable high-throughput analysis, dramatically increasing productivity compared to manual batch processing while reducing total measurement time through elimination of manual operation intervals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a faster, more accurate, and safer nitrate measurement with reduced user error and eliminates the need for toxic metals, offering a cost-effective and portable solution for nitrate detection in aqueous samples.
Implementation Method 1
an aqueous sample containing an amount of nitrate is introduced to a cation exchange resin. The exchange resin may produce nitric acid.
Implementation Method 2
The aqueous sample containing the nitric acid is flowed over copper metal. The copper metal may produce copper(II) cations.
Implementation Method 3
a reducing reagent is added to the aqueous sample. The reducing reagent reduces copper(II) to copper(I).
Implementation Method 4
a colorimetric indicator is added to the aqueous sample. The colorimetric indicator is reactive to copper(I). The amount of nitrate in the aqueous sample is determined by a change in intensity of absorbance of the colorimetric indicator.
Data Source
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AI summary
An embodiment provides a method for measuring nitrate in an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample containing an amount of nitrate to a cation exchange resin; flowing the aqueous sample over copper metal; adding a reducing reagent to the aqueous sample; adding a colorimetric indicator to the aqueous sample; and measuring the amount of nitrate in the aqueous sample by measuring a change in intensity of the absorbance. Other aspects are described and claimed.