DETERMINATION OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF ALUMINUM IN WATER BY SOLID-PHASE SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

A method for the determination of trace amounts of aluminium based on Solid-Phase Spectrophotometry has been developed. Aluminium reacts wit h Eriochrome Cyanine R to give a highly coloured complex, which is fix ed on a dextran type anion-exchanger. The absorbance of the gel, at 59 0 and 750 nm, packed in a 1-mm cell, is measured directly. The calibra tion graph is linear in the concentration range 0.12-6.0 mu gl(-1) and the RSD is 1.4 %. The detection limit of the 1000-ml sample method is to ngl(-1) for a 30 mg anion-exchanger. The sensitivity can be enhanc ed by increasing the sample volume. The method has been applied to the determination of aluminium in tap, spring and distilled water.