The presence of these excess nutrients in natural waterways leads to algal blooms that threaten the life of aquatic organisms and human drinking water sources

Algal blooms not only reduce the oxygen content in water, but also produce toxins that are difficult to remove and harmful to health.a key nutrient is nitrogen, an estimated one-hundred billion kilograms of which is released annually from fertilizers around the world. Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment processes expend significant effort and energy reducing nitrogen content. Traditionally, nitrogen is removed through a nitrification/denitrification process. Microorganisms first convert ammonia to nitrate through hydroxylamine and nitrite, followed by an organic reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen. This process requires oxygen, making IT energy intensive.modern wastewater treatment systems are based on an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) process. This process by-passes multiple steps in the traditional treatment method by direct conversion of nitrite and ammonium to dinitrogen, allowing for the optimized formation of biogas. Our proposal is focused on using surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy to measure the nitrogen cycle quantitatively in municipal wastewater, with a near-term focus on ammonia and hydroxylamine, two key process indicators for the ANAMMOX process. Colorimetric methods for analysis are easily influenced by sample color or matrix interferences, while laboratory methods like ION chromatography are complex and expensive. Our approach addresses these challenges, providing an automated, semi-continuous instrument for nitrogen concentration. Our technology will improve energy efficiency and support renewable energy generation in the wastewater treatment process through improved process monitoring and control.