Phosphorus speciation in water and sediments (Technical Report)

Environmentally significant phosphorus species in water and phosphorus frac tions in sediments are briefly discussed and the methods for their determin ation are described. One of the most critical analytical steps is the separ ation of the different farms which, after conversion into orthophosphates, may be determined by a multitude of various techniques. Spectrophotometric methods are often preferred for routine analysis. Several rapid automatic m ethods for the separation and determination of orthsphosphate, linear polyp hosphates, cyclic condensed phosphates and lower oxidation state anions of phosphorus, which may exist in natural and waste waters, have been develope d. They are mainly based on the use of flow-injection analysis, high-perfor mance liquid chromatography, including ion chromatography, capillary electr ophoresis and a few other techniques. These methods have been described and critically evaluated.