Case Study: Missing Nitrite

By James McDonald, PE, CWT

Originally Published: CSTN – March 2003

During a service visit to a client's facility, you notice the nitrite level in the
chilled closed loop is low. Last visit, it was perfect. Immediately, your
troubleshooting skills kick in and you try to determine why. This is usually a
very tight system, so you ask the operator if they've done any repairs or had
any leaks and are told no. You check the makeup water meter, and zero
water was used since your last visit. Since makeup is automated, this proves
the system has lost no water assuming the water meter is functioning
properly. You also notice that the conductivity had not changed since your
last visit.
What could cause the nitrite level to be low? Take a few moments to

Air
Cooled
Chiller

Chilled
Water
Storage
Tank

Test Unit
Heat Exchangers

Softened
City Makeup

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consider this system diagram to the left and what could cause this situation.
The desired level of nitrite in the system was 2,000 ppm. At the last visit,
2,000 ppm of nitrite was recorded. This visit's nitrite test showed only 1,100
ppm of nitrite. Where did it go?
Let's discuss all the reasons for low nitrite to occur in a closed loop and see
which one was the root cause for this case.

Low Nitrite Causes

• Testing Procedural Error: We're only human and the Hach
NitriVer 2 test only reads up to 250 ppm. This means dilutions must
be done. Errors in dilutions can affect your test results. The test
was repeated, however, with the same basic results. Acceptable
errors in dilution would not explain a 900 ppm nitrite difference.
• Testing Interference Error: The only interference listed in the
Hach Water Analysis Handbook is glycol. This was not a glycol-
based system. The Handbook also pointed out that the NitroVer2
test does not measure nitrates.
• Water Loss: A water loss followed by the addition of makeup water
would explain the drop in nitrite levels, however this should also be
accompanied by a drop in conductivity. The conductivity had not
dropped. The makeup meter did not record any makeup water since
the last visit. The operators reported no repair work or signs of
leaks. Water loss did not appear to be the cause.
• Incompatible Chemistries: Incompatible chemistries in a system
can cause the nitrite to be reduced or oxidized. Oxidizing biocides
should never be used in a closed loop with nitrites. Sulfite should
never be used in a closed loop with nitrites. This system used
neither.
• Chemical Consumption/Breakdown: Nitrite can be source of food
for bacteria; denitrifying bacteria in particular. Microbiological
degradation of the nitrite made all the pieces of the puzzle fit
together. If the bacteria broke down the nitrite to another species,
then the overall conductivity or dissolved solids content of the water
would not have significantly changed.

Conclusion
Microbiological activity explained why the nitrite levels dropped but no
makeup was added and the conductivity was the same. Subsequent testing
showed microbiological activity was indeed happening in the closed loop.

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After treatment with a nonoxidizing biocide, the nitrite levels have been
stable ever since.
This case study illustrates how interrelated everything within a system
actually is. Without directly testing for microbiological activity, it can be
deduced by the effects it has on a system. The total aerobic dipslides we
typically use may not show the microbiological problem. A water sample
may have to be analyzed by a microbiological lab or denitrifying biological
activity dipslides may have to be used. Knowing the interrelation of the
parameters of a system will save both you and your customer time and
money.

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