I am performing electrochemical experiments to oxidize urea and I am looking for an easy method for measuring urea concentration in aqueous solutions containing various electrolyte salts such as NaCl, NaOH, KOH, Na2SO4. I have come across various methods using urease or other reagents to produce NH4+ and then measure ammonia, but I am wondering if there is a simpler method.
I use TOC to estimate the urea amount if urea is the only organic carbon source in your water sample.
The pH of your water sample should be very high since it has both NaOH and KOH. Typically, we need to add acid in water sample before the TOC test. Is it possible that your sample contains too much OH- and cannot be completely neutralized by acid addition? If this is the case, urea may be purged out during the TOC test, rendering a biased outcome lowered than your anticipation.
I am aware of this issue, and have taken the steps to eliminate it. I may need to recheck my methods one more and hone in on the error if I cannot find another urea measurement method. Thank you for your advice.
Its not so sensible, because its very old method, but you can assay urea by biuret method.
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