USGS-NWQL: I-7425:  Lithium, suspended recoverable, FLAA

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Lithium, atomic absorption spectrometric, direct
Current Revision
1985
Media
WATER
Instrumentation
Flame Atomic Absorption
Method Subcategory
Inorganic
Method Source
  USGS-NWQL
Citation
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
Brief Method Summary
Lithium is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry by direct aspiration of the sample solution into an air-acetylene flame (Fishman and Downs, 1966).
The procedure may be automated by the addition of a sampler and either a strip-chart recorder or a printer or both.
Scope and Application
Suspended recoverable lithium is calculated by subtracting dissolved lithium from total recoverable lithium. Prepared sample solutions containing more than 1,000 ug/L need either to be diluted or to be read on a less expanded scale. Total recoverable lithium in water-suspended sediment needs to undergo preliminary digestion-solubilization by method I-3485.
Applicable Concentration Range
10 ug/L to 1000 ug/L
Interferences
The following elements interfere when the indicated concentrations are exceeded: sodium, 1,000 mg/L; potassium, 100 mg/L; magnesium, 200 mg/L; calcium, 200 mg/L; chloride, 1,000 mg/L; sulfate, 2,000 mg/L; nitrate, 100 mg/L; and strontium, 5,000 ug/L.
Quality Control Requirements
Calibrate instrument using calibration standards (CAL). Quality control samples (QCS) and laboratory blanks (LB) analyzed at a minimum of I each after every 10 samples
Sample Handling
Container Descriptions: 250 mL Polyethylene bottles, acid-rinsed.
Treatment and Preservation: Use unfiltered sample to rinse bottle, then acidify collected sample with HNO3 to pH <2. For second sample, filter through 0.45-um filter, use filtered sample to rinse containers and acidify sample with HNO3 to pH < 2.
Maximum Holding Time
180 days
Relative Cost
Less than $50
Sample Preparation Methods
I-3485