USGS-NWQL: I-1054: Aluminum, dissolved, water, DCP
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Official Method Name
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Aluminum, atomic emission spectrometric, d-c plasma |
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Current Revision
| Revised 1985 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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Automated Spectrophotometer |
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Method Subcategory
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Inorganic |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Methods for the Determination of Inorganic Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Book 5, Chapter A1 Edited by Marvin J. Fishman and Linda C. Friedman |
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Brief Method Summary
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Aluminum is determined by a direct-reading emission spectrometer which utilizes a d-c argon plasma as an excitation source (Johnson and others, 1979 a,b, 1980). A mixture of lithium chloride, sulfuric acid, and glycerin is added to samples and standards to provide a common background matrix and to compensate for viscosity changes. The liquid mixture is then converted by a ceramic nebulizer into a fine aerosol and introduced into the plasma via a plastic spray chamber and Pyrex injection tube. Aluminum is determined on the basis of the average of two replicate exposures, each of which is performed on a 10-second integrated intensity. Calibration is performed by standardization with a high-standard solution and a blank. |
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Scope and Application
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This method may be used to analyze finished water, natural water, industrial water, and water-suspended sediment containing from 10 to 1000 ug/L of aluminum. Samples containing more than 1000 ug/L aluminum and (or) with specific conductances greater than 10,000 uS/cm need to be diluted. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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10-1000 ug/L |
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Interferences
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Stray-light effects in a high-resolution, single-element d-c argon plasma emission spectrometer are negligible. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Calibrate instrument using calibration standards (CAL). Quality control samples (QCS) and laboratory blanks (LB) analyzed at a minimum of 1 each after every 10 samples. (Reference OFR 95-443). |
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Sample Handling
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Container Description: 250 mL Polyethylene bottle, acid-rinsed. Treatment and Preservation: Filter through 0.45-um filter, use filtered sample to rinse containers and acidify sample with HNO3 to pH < 2. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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180 days |
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Relative Cost
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Less than $50 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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