Greetings
I am looking for simple and accurate protocols in order to measure nitrate and nitrite in lettuces.
I have been growing them in an NFT hydroponic system with artificial lighting (150 & 500 μmol s-1 m-2).
Does it make any difference if we use dry matter instead of fresh?
Should we measure nitrite/ntrate after x days of storage in the fridge?
Does anyone have any leads?
Thanks in advance
See one paper on Determination of nitrate in lettuce by ion chromatography after microwave water extraction .
Article Determination of nitrate in lettuce by ion chromatography af...
Most suggest that the material should be extracted fresh, or freeze dried. I would assume that snap freezing in liquid N2 followed by holding at minus 20 degrees would also be fine. Rapid air-drying at 60 to 70 degrees may be OK, but is contentious.
There are other queries running about the analysis
I should add Orfeas that :
1. nitration reactions, e.g. of salicylate, are more convenient but more interference prone than reduction and diazotisation; and
2. fridge temperature (4-10 degrees) may be OK for 24 h;
3. ion selective electrodes suffer Cl interference.
Regards, Paul.
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