A SIMPLE AND RELIABLE METHOD TO EXTRACT AND MEASURE IODINE IN SOILS

A procedure was developed for the extraction of iodine from soil sampl es by alkaline ashing. After the extraction, the iodine was measured u sing gas chromatography. The method was validated using MST Standard R eference Materials: San Joaquin Soil (SRM 2709), Montana Soil (SRM 271 1) and Buffalo River Sediment (SRM 2704). The method gave consistently reproducible results that are in good agreement with the noncertified iodine concentrations reported by NIST, which were measured using neu tron activation analysis. The method presented here requires relativel y low cost equipment and can be performed in most environmental measur ement laboratories. Also, since it has been demonstrated to be reliabl e for soils, it may help in the development of NIST certified soil sta ndards for iodine.