Thomas B. Hoover
Published: 1976
Total Pages: 40
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"A second-generation flame spectometer for the direct determination of phosphorus in water was evaluated. Response to phosphorus in the form of phosphoric acid was linear from 0.5 to 16 ppm phosphorus. The relative standard deviation was approximately constant at 20 percent over the range. River water and municipal sewage effluent were analyzed after the addition of phosphoric acid (1.8 ppm P) and filtration through a series of microporous membranes. Recovery of the added phosphorus averaged 70 percent for the river water and 95 percent for the sewage effluent after treatment with cation exchange resin. There was no clear relation to filter pore size in the range 5 to 0.2 micrometers. Analyses of the higher range EPA Nutrient Reference Samples (approximately 0.5 ppm P) agreed within one standard deviation with the reference values, both for inorganic and total phosphorus. The lower concentration range samples (approximately 0.1 ppm P) gave barely detectable signals. Suggestions are given for further development of the instrument. -- Abstract