Nitrate in Vegetables

Reflectometric determination after reduction to nitrite and reaction with Griess reagent.

Introduction

Nitrates are naturally occurring compounds that are found in the air, water, soil, and plants, forming part of the nitrogen cycle. Humans consume nitrate from a variety of sources, but plant matter in the form of vegetables is usually the biggest contributor unless the nitrate content of drinking water is exceptionally high.¹ A number of factors can influence nitrate levels in vegetables including the type/part of the vegetable, cultivation frequency, weather conditions, soil quality, food production processes, and the type/amount of fertilizers.²

Nitrates themselves are relatively non-toxic, but metabolites produced in the body such as nitrite, nitric oxide, and N-nitroso compounds are of concern because they have been linked to both cancer and a blood condition called methaemoglobinaemia.³ As a result, it is important to monitor nitrate levels in vegetables in order to avoid these potential adverse health effects. Here, we outline a general method for determination of nitrate levels in vegetables using reflectometry.

Experimental Method

Nitrate ions are reduced to nitrite ions by a reducing agent. In the presence of an acidic buffer, these nitrite ions react with an aromatic amine to form a diazonium salt, which in turn reacts with N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine to form a red-violet azo dye that is determined reflectometrically.

Reagents, Instruments and Materials

Test Kits

• Nitrate Test Method: reflectometric with test strips 5 – 225 mg/l NO₃^- Reflectoquant^® (1.16971) or
• Nitrate Test Method: reflectometric with test strips 3 - 90 mg/l NO₃^- Reflectoquant^® (1.16995)

Instruments

• Reflectometer RQflex^® 20 Reflectoquant^® (1.17246)

Note: This application note pertains to RQflex^® 20 and all discontinued instruments (RQflex^® 10, RQflex^® plus).

Sample preparation

• Homogenize the sample in a blender (e.g., Ultra-Turrax^®).
• Weigh a representative sample into a beaker and add distilled water.
• Cover the beaker with a watch glass and boil for ca. 15 minutes.
• Allow to cool, transfer to a volumetric flask and make up to the final volume with distilled water.

Recommended sample quantities and volumes for several vegetables are given in below sample preparation table. As the concentrations of nitrate can vary substantially from vegetable to vegetable, the dilution factor should be appropriately adapted.

Instrumental Analysis

• Press the reflectometer START key and simultaneously dip the test strip into the sample (15 - 30 °C) for ca. 2 seconds, ensuring that both reaction zones are immersed.
• Allow excess liquid to run off via the long edge of the strip on to an absorbent paper towel.
• Wait for 60 seconds and then measure the strip in the reflectometer.

The value [mg/l] will be stored automatically. (Please refer to the RQflex^® operating instructions and the instruction for use of the Reflectoquant^® Nitrate Tests.)

Calculation

Nitrate content [mg/kg] = Measured value [mg/l] x Volume of water [ml] ÷ Weight of sample [g]

Nitrate content [mg/kg] = Measured value x factor

Results