University of Santo Tomas Department of Chemical Engineering Determination of Ammonia in Fish Port Based on Polyaniline Film as an Optical Sensor

Jan Patrick B. Reyes, Jose Julio R. Cruz, Ma. Kristine R. Lim and Dr. Edna C. Quinto Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Research Center for the Natural Sciences, University of Santo Tomas Espaa Street, Manila 1015, Philippines
Abstract. Many studies have been made concerning gas sensors for ammonia. Apart from its natural origin there are many sources of ammonia, like chemical industry, fisheries and intensive livestock. The ammonia gas sensing capabilities of the Polyaniline film from several studies have proven to be of high reliability in sensing of high and low concentrations. The sensor was immobilized on polystyrene layer and tested through a 2.5ml cuvette to fit into a Perkin Elmer Lambda 25 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. This study aims to determine the level of ammonia concentration, stability, repeatability, and sensitivity in the fish port of Malabon City. Gas sample were collected and several tests were conducted before and after exposure of the PANI coated cuvette in the environment. Several factors considered in the sampling method were used for the provision of safe and clean air and to contribute to the objective of determining ammonia in fish ports. Using the measurement of 800 nm, both the change in absorbance of each real sample was extrapolated to get the concentration of the ammonia in the surrounding environment yielding an ammonia concentration of 0.538 M and 0.06M respectively. Introduction. Ammonia is the major end product in the breakdown of proteins in fish. Fish digest the protein in their feed and excrete ammonia through their gills and in their feces. It is important to analyze the presence of ammonia gas at low ppm level itself for controlling environmental pollution. And also ammonia gas plays vital role in industrial process, fertilizers, food technology and farms. So, developing a gas sensor for the detection of ammonia gas is very important. The investigation on the effect of ammonia and water on a Polyaniline layer was done by measuring conductance changes. Sensitivity of PANI to water was an order of magnitude less than that of ammonia. This study aims to determine the level of ammonia concentration, stability, repeatability, and sensitivity in fish port and wet market in an area of Malabon City. Methodology. Polyaniline films are done by polymerizing aniline and ammonium sulfate with a 1:1 ratio. Ammonia Gas samples are subjected to the film and tested for the Stability, Repeatability, Sensitivity and Response time of the PANI film. Real Samples on Malabon Area are gathered in different time of day for more detailed concentration of ammonia. Results and Discussion. The design of the sensor were tested using different methods such as repeatability, sensitivity and limit of detection test had satisfied the standard measures for the test of the optical sensor. The features of te sensor is shown in the table below, having conducted the test the sensor is safe and stable to use in real samples.

A calibration curve was determined using various ammonia concentration, with the change in absorbance from the blank sample both the concentration of the real samples were determined by using the equation in the figure below. .

Fig 4.7.2 Calibration Curve and Determination of Ammonia Concentration Conclusion and Recommendation. PANI coated cuvette were used as an optical sensor for ammonia and amines, based on the gathered information the ammonia concentration in fish port is 0.5377 M and on fish market is 0.06006 M. The concentration measured is below the safety standard for ammonia and said to be more concentrated in the fish port than in the market place The concentration should vary due to the time of where the experiment were conducted.The figure below shows the calibration cruve of the various concentrations used. The molarity of both the samples were determined using the equation of the line

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