Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment (생태와환경)

The Korean Society of Limnology (한국수생태학회)
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Introduction of Kjeldahl Digestion Method for Nitrogen Stable Isotope Analysis (δ15N-NO3 and δ15NNH4) and Case Study for Tracing Nitrogen Source

Kjeldahl 증류법을 활용한 질산성-질소 및 암모니아성-질소 안정동위원소비 분석 및 질소오염원 추적 사례 연구

  • Kim, Min-Seob (Department of Environmental Measurement & Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Park, Tae-Jin (Department of Fundamental Environment Research, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Yoon, Suk-Hee (Department of Environmental Measurement & Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Lim, Bo-La (Department of Environmental Measurement & Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Shin, Kyung-Hoon (Department of Marine Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kwon, Oh-Sang (Department of Watershed and Total Load Management Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Lee, Won-Seok (Department of Environmental Measurement & Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research)
  • 김민섭 (국립환경과학원 환경측정분석센터) ;
  • 박태진 (국립환경과학원 유역총량연구과) ;
  • 윤숙희 (국립환경과학원 환경측정분석센터) ;
  • 임보라 (국립환경과학원 환경측정분석센터) ;
  • 신경훈 (한양대학교 해양융합과) ;
  • 권오상 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부) ;
  • 이원석 (국립환경과학원 환경측정분석센터)
  • Received : 2015.06.01
  • Accepted : 2015.09.30
  • Published : 2015.09.30
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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) loading from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources can lead to excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton in aquatic environment. Many studies have used nitrogen stable isotope ratios to identify anthropogenic nitrogen in aquatic systems as a useful method for studying nitrogen cycle. In this study to evaluate the precision and accuracy of Kjeldahl processes, two reference materials (IAEA-NO-3, N-1) were analyzed repeatedly. Measured the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values of IAEA-NO-3 and IAEA-N-1 were $4.7{\pm}0.2$‰ and $0.4{\pm}0.3$‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated spatial patterns of ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ in effluent plumes from a waste water treatment plant in Han River, Korea. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values are enriched at downstream areas of water treatment plant suggesting that dissolved nitrogen in effluent plumes should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of Kjeldahl analytical method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the contamination source of dissolved nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonia.

본 연구는 Kjeldahl 증류법을 이용하여 암모니아성 질소 및 질산성 질소의 안정동위원소 분석법을 연구하였으며, 건조방법 및 시료 농도 범위에 따른 분석값의 변화에 대하여 고찰하였다. 표준시료를 다양한 농도 범위 (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, $10mgL^{-1}$)로 조제하여 질산성 및 암모니아성 질소 안정동위원소비 ($^{15}NH_4-N$, $^{15}NO_3-N$)를 분석한 결과, $^{15}NH_4-N$는 $0.1{\sim}10mgL^{-1}$의 농도 범위에서 측정 가능하였으며 (${\pm}0.2$‰)$^{15}NO_3-N$는 $0.4{\sim}10mgL^{-1}$의 농도 범위에서 측정 가능하였다 (${\pm}0.3$‰). Kjedahl 증류법으로 얻어진 시료를 건조할 경우 오븐건조는 질소 안정동위원소비가 2.2‰의 큰 변화를 보이지만, 동결건조는 0.5‰의 작은 차이를 보이므로 동결건조방법이 적합하였다. 실증연구 일환으로 한강 수계 중권역의 한 지천에서 암모니아성 질소 ($NH_4-N$) 및 질산성 질소 ($NO_3-N$)의 안정동위원소비를 이용하여 질산염의 기원을 추적해 보았다. 지천이 흘러가는 방향을 중심으로 상류, 하수처리 방류장, 하류로 구분하고 각각의 $^{15}NH_4-N$, $^{15}NO_3-N$ 안정동위원소비를 분석하였다. 상류에서 질산염의 $^{15}NO_3-N$, $^{15}NH_4-N$ 값이 가볍게 나타나지만 (2‰, 8‰), 특성이 다른 질소화합물의 방류수 (23‰, 14‰)가 유입되면서 하류 (21‰, 11‰)에 영향을 주는 것으로 여겨진다. 본 연구를 통하여 수행된 $^{15}NH_4-N$, $^{15}NO_3-N$ 안정동위원소비 분석법은 수생태계로 유입되는 다양한 질소 기원을 파악하여 효율적인 수질 관리를 위한 중요 정보를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 다만 이와 같은 기법을 적용하기 위해서는 추후 유역 오염원의 대표값 (end member)의 조사를 통하여 지속적인 자료구축이 이루어져야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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