Developing an analyser for nitrogen compounds in RAS
Irish company Aquamonitrix has received NOK 3.23 million in funding from FHF to develop an analyser that will automatically measure ammonium, nitrite and nitrate in both freshwater and seawater. Mowi and Havlandet are also involved in the project, and the company is targeting a commercial launch in 2027.
“What sets us apart is that we combine ion chromatography with UV-LED detection.”
Colm Lynch, CEO of Irish technology company Aquamonitrix, tells LandbasedAQ when we meet him at the Fremtidens smolt (Future of Smolt) conference in Sunndalsøra, Norway.
The company has a background in environmental analysis and water treatment, and has already developed an analyser for nitrate and nitrite. The technology is now being developed further to measure ammonium as well, through a research and development project funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF).
“We succeeded in securing funding to develop the product. That is very encouraging, because Norway is a world leader in aquaculture. When Norway invests in something we are developing, we take it as a sign that we are doing something right,” Lynch says.
The FHF project is entitled “Development of an Ammonium analyser for fresh and saline water quality in RAS aquaculture processes” and is being carried out in collaboration with Mowi and Havlandet.
The aim of the FHF project is to further develop and validate the technology so that it can provide reliable, automated measurements under normal operating conditions in RAS facilities.
Ion chromatography at the fish farm
Aquamonitrix’s existing technology is based on ion chromatography, an analytical method in which ions are separated before being detected and quantified.
In the company’s solution, this separation is combined with UV-LED detection at a wavelength of 235 nanometres.
“We use a very specific wavelength of 235 nanometres, which enables us to detect particular analytes, such as nitrate, nitrite and monochloramine,” Lynch explains.
According to the company, a key feature of the technology is that it can be used in water across a wide range of salinities.
“Because the mobile phase in our system is a very dilute sodium chloride solution, we can use the system in both freshwater and full-strength seawater, and switch between the two without having to recalibrate.”
This is particularly relevant to land-based aquaculture, where water quality must be monitored in freshwater production as well as in facilities using brackish water or seawater.
Lynch believes the solution brings an analytical method traditionally associated with laboratories into day-to-day operations.
“This gives us extremely high accuracy – laboratory-level accuracy in the field.”
Aiming to overcome limitations of existing sensors
According to Lynch, ion-selective electrodes, often referred to as ISE probes, have been a widely used method for measuring specific ions in water.
However, they can be affected by other ions present in the sample.
“Chloride is an ion that can cause particular interference. That makes it very difficult for this technology to work in saltwater.”
He also points to challenges with optical UV probes, where particles and turbidity can affect the measurements.
“These technologies have been around for decades. They are very good, but they also have limitations. We have found a solution to the biggest of these challenges,” he says.
Ammonium is important in RAS
The project is driven by the need for better monitoring of nitrogen compounds in recirculating aquaculture systems.
In RAS, ammonium and ammonia are produced through fish metabolism and the breakdown of organic matter. In the biofilter, ammonium/ammonia is converted through nitrification into nitrite and then nitrate.
The balance between ionised ammonium (NH₄⁺) and unionised ammonia (NH₃) is influenced by factors including pH and temperature. It is particularly the unionised ammonia that is acutely toxic to fish.
In its project description, FHF points out that short-term increases in ammonia or total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) can cause stress, reduced feed intake and, in the worst case, mortality.
More reliable and frequent measurements should give fish farmers a better opportunity to detect changes early and monitor the biofilter’s nitrification process.
The project aims to deliver an analyser that measures the nitrogen compounds automatically, with an uptime of at least 85%, precision of at least 90%, and results within 90–110% of the reference value.
FHF has also set specific targets for limits of quantification: 0.20 mg/L NH₃-N for ammonia, 0.05 mg/L NO₂-N for nitrite and 0.25 mg/L NO₃-N for nitrate.
Entered aquaculture through Irish collaboration
Aquamonitrix initially had no experience of the aquaculture industry.
“Initially, we knew nothing about aquaculture,” Lynch says.
The company’s introduction to the industry came through Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s state agency for seafood industry development.
“With help from BIM and key people there, such as Damien Toner, conversations made us aware of the value of measuring water quality in aquaculture.”
In 2022, the company was invited to an accelerator programme run by Hatch Blue, where it met a number of aquaculture industry participants.
“We spent a whole week immersing ourselves in aquaculture with Hatch, which brought in speakers from Mowi and other major organisations to teach us about the industry.”
It gradually became clear that accurate nitrite measurements, and the ability to analyse both freshwater and seawater, could be particularly relevant.
“It became increasingly clear that the real value lay in being able to measure nitrite, and that highly accurate nitrite measurements were an important advantage because nitrite is toxic to fish.”
Hatch Blue also helped establish contact with Havlandet, which is now one of the industry partners in the FHF project.
Encouraged to apply by FHF
According to Lynch, the path to Norwegian research funding began with a conversation with FHF’s research manager Øyvind Hilmarsen at an aquaculture trade show.
“He saw an unmet market need for measuring ammonium. Combining ammonium with nitrate and nitrite would make a very interesting product.”
According to Lynch, Hilmarsen encouraged the company to apply for funding.
“There was no guarantee, but he felt the project could be a good fit and recommended that we apply,” Lynch says.
Aquamonitrix then formed a consortium with Mowi and Havlandet.
The project began on 1 April 2026 and is scheduled to end on 30 September 2027.
FHF is contributing NOK 3.23 million, while Aquamonitrix is contributing NOK 2.83 million. Mowi and Havlandet are contributing NOK 201,000 each.
According to the project description, Aquamonitrix will be responsible for developing the technology, while the industry partners will contribute operational expertise and testing under real production conditions.
Mowi will contribute experience from salmon farming, while Havlandet will bring expertise in land-based farming of marine species.
To be tested at commercial facilities
The project will develop the technology from a prototype into an instrument suitable for everyday use in aquaculture.
Following initial tests, the analysers will be trialled at Mowi and Havlandet facilities.
Development work covers both the instrument’s mechanical and analytical characteristics and a digital platform for remote monitoring, data analysis and reporting.
The aim is for the analyser to provide automated measurement data without extensive manual sampling, while withstanding conditions in RAS facilities, including the risk of biofouling.
In its project description, FHF highlights potential benefits including improved biofilter management, optimised feeding, reduced labour requirements and a lower risk of incidents affecting fish welfare.
These are anticipated benefits that the project is intended to investigate, not effects that have already been demonstrated.
A prototype has already been sold
Although development is still ongoing, Lynch says Aquamonitrix is already seeing interest in the new analyser.
“Sometime around the third quarter of 2027, we will launch our first total inorganic nitrogen analyser, measuring ammonium, nitrite and nitrate.”
The new analyser will use the same technological platform as the company’s existing nitrate and nitrite analyser.
“It will look very much like the nitrate/nitrite analyser we have on display here at the conference, because it is based on the same platform,” he says.
According to Lynch, the company has already sold one unit of the new solution, even though development is not yet complete.
“We have actually sold one prototype. The customer has been clearly informed of its limitations: this is a prototype. Even so, they want to buy it, because the need is there,” he says.
He sees the Norwegian aquaculture industry as a market with considerable interest in technological solutions that can deliver practical improvements.
“I find the Norwegian market mature and clear about what it needs. It also responds faster than the traditional water industry,” he concludes.
