Detecting the first and most critical stage of the Nitrogen Cycle.
An ammonia sensor measures the concentration of ammonia nitrogen present in water or process systems. Ammonia may exist as free ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium ions (NH₄⁺), depending on pH and temperature.
In biological and treatment processes, ammonia is both a nutrient and a toxin. Its accumulation indicates process imbalance, biological stress, or system overload.
Ammonia sensors detect nitrogen in its reduced form using electrochemical, optical, or ion-selective techniques. The measured signal is proportional to ammonia concentration, typically expressed as mg/L NH₃-N or NH₄⁺-N.
This sensor belongs to the Process Quality Cluster , and is a key part of the Nitrogen Cycle , governing biological stability, nutrient balance, and regulatory compliance.
The measured value represents the concentration of ammonia nitrogen entering or existing within a process system.
Ammonia trends indirectly reveal:
Sustained ammonia presence is a leading indicator of biological process failure and demands immediate corrective action.
When ammonia exceeds threshold limits, immediate action in aeration, sludge age control, or biological load balancing is required.
Ammonia is the starting point of the Nitrogen Cycle. In healthy systems, ammonia is converted by nitrifying bacteria into nitrite and then nitrate.
Persistent ammonia presence indicates that the nitrogen cycle is broken upstream. Downstream sensors cannot compensate for ammonia failure at the source.
With Industrial IoT integration, ammonia sensors enable early detection of biological stress, automated aeration and dosing control, trend-based nitrogen load analysis, and compliance-focused reporting.
The Ammonia Sensor is the gatekeeper of the Nitrogen Cycle. If ammonia is not understood and controlled, no downstream sensor can save the process. Stable ammonia control is the foundation of reliable, efficient, and compliant treatment systems.