Nitrate Reductase Based Nitrate Test Kit for Home and Farm Water Supplies

Nitrate contamination of water is a national problem with direct impact on farmers and rural communities. High nitrate content in potable and animal feed water affects quality of life for humans and threatens productivity from livestock. Existing nitrate determination methods have a number of drawbacks: 1) lack of sensitivity, 2) inclusion of toxic reagents, and/or 3) difficulty of interpretation. We propose to develop an easy-to-use, accurate, and environmentally safe nitrate test kit based on the enzyme nitrate reductase isolated from corn leaves. The kit will be designed for home and farm use. Technical challenges in kit development are: 1) formulation of an enzyme-based kit for home use; and 2) simplifying evaluation of test results. Our objectives are to assemble an effective and easy-to-use nitrate test kit and to study new ways to quantify nitrate tests results without expensive or complicated devices. NECi has a significant competitive advantage in our proprietary technique for purifying nitrate reductase in a stable form. Our long term goals are the development of enzyme-based nitrate sensors and an enzyme nitrate elimination system for removal of nitrate at the tap. The nitrate test kit is the first step toward these goals.