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<i>Short communication</i> Sulphate measurement in organic-rich solutions: Carbonate fusion pretreatment to remove organic interferences


NE Ristow
SW Sötemann
MC Wentzel
RE Loewenthal
GA Ekama

Abstract



Sulphate measurement using a barium sulphate turbidimetric method in solutions with high concentrations of organic material is shown to be problematic. The organics give background colour, which introduces a positive error to the measured absorption,
and inhibit the barium sulphate precipitate, which results in a negative error. A carbonate fusion pretreatment of the sample results in the removal of the organic matter and associated interferences. With this pretreatment, excellent sulphate recoveries
were obtained (100%). Rigorous testing of the method shows that reproducible and accurate results are obtainable.

Water SA Vol. 31 (2) 2005: pp.267-270

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1816-7950
print ISSN: 0378-4738