AS 3550.

3—1992

Australian Standard
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Waters

Part 3: Determination of
alkalinity—Acidimetric titration
method
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee CH/22, Methods for Examination
of Waters. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on
28 January 1992 and published on 16 April 1992.

The following interests are represented on Committee CH/22:

Australian Government Analytical Laboratories
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australian Mining Industry Council
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Confederation of Australian Industry

Department of Administrative Services
Department of Conservation and Environment, Vic.
Department of Health, N.S.W.
Engineering and Water Supply Department, S.A.
Environment Protection Authority, Vic.
Government Chemical Laboratory, Qld
Griffith University
Melbourne Water
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Rural Water Commission, Vic.
University of Sydney
University of Melbourne
Water Board, Sydney—Illawarra—Blue Mountains

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 AS 3550.3—1992

Australian Standard
This is a free 4 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Waters
Part 3: Determination of
alkalinity—Acidimetric titration
method

First publi shed as AS 2449—1981.

Revised and redesignated AS 3550.3—1992.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 7363 5
 AS 3550.3—1992 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Methods of Examination of
Waters, as a revision of AS 2449—1981 Waters—Determination of alkalinity—Acidimetric titration
method. The method is technically equivalent to AS 2449, with the inclusion of editorial changes,
additional information on the reaction mechanism, and separation of the phenolphthalein indicator from
the mixed (methyl-red and bromocresol green) indicators, to allow easier endpoint determination. The
method is based on Method 2320 in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,
17th ed, APHA, AWWA, WPCF, 1989.

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 2
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 3
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 3
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3 PRINCIPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . .. . 3
4 REACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 3
5 REAGENTS AND MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . . .. 3
6 APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . ... 4
7 SAMPLING AND SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 4
8 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . ... 4
9 CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . ... 5
10 PRECISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 6
11 TEST REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . ... 6

FOREWORD

The alkalinity of water is primarily a function of the carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide contents.
The measured values may also include contribution from borates, phosphates or silicates, if these are
present. The result obtained is dependent upon the end-point pH used and, for a particular water, this
should be established by a potentiometric titration using a pH meter. The most accurate end-point is
obtained from the inflection point of a titration curve. The phenolphthalein alkalinity end-point is at
pH 8.3 and, for most waters, the total alkalinity end-point may be taken as occurring at pH 4.5. Colour
indicators may be used for routine and control titrations in the absence of chlorine, interfering colour
and turbidity and, for preliminary titrations, to select the sample size and strength of titrant.

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AS 3550.3-1992, Waters Determination of alkalinity

- Acidimetric titration method
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