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Standard Testing Procedure
Title: Determination of Alkalinity in Ref No.: AECL/Lab/STP/19/03
Effective Date: 25th November, 2019
Water Sample Supersedes Date: 24th November, 2020

Objective:

To estimate the amount of total alkalinity in the collected sample of water.

Principle:

Alkalinity of water is the capacity of that water to accept protons. It may be defined
as the quantitative capacity of an aqueous medium to react with hydrogen ions to
pH 8.3 (phenolphthalein alkalinity) and then to pH 3.7 (total alkalinity or methyl
orange alkalinity). The equation in its simplest form is as follows:

CO3---+ H+ = HCO3- - (pH 8.3)

From pH 8.3 to 3.7, the following reaction may occur:

HCO3- + H+ = H2CO3

Responsibility:

Senior Chemist shall have the full accountability regarding lab testing. He is
responsible for the deployment, standard and accuracy of the test parameter along.

Reagents:

1. Distilled Water 2. 0.02 N H2SO4 3. Phenolphthalein Indicator 4. Mixed Indicator

Solution (Dissolve 0·02 9 methyl red and 0.01 g bromocresol green in 100 ml 95
percent ethyl or isopropyl alcohol)

Apparatus:

1. Titration unit 2. Conical flask 3. Dropper 4. Pipette 5. Beaker

Procedure:

1. Pipette 20 ml sample into a clean conical flask.

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2. If the pH of the sample is over 8.3, then add 2 to 3 drops of phenolphthalein

Indicator.

3. Titrate with standard sulphuric acid solution till the pink color obtained by
indicator just disappears (equivalence of pH 8.3).

4. Note down the initial reading.

5. Add 2 to 3 drops of mixed indicator to the solution.

6. Titrate with the standard acid to light pink color (equivalence of pH 3.7).

7. Note down the final reading.

Calculation:

A × N ×50,000
Phenolphthalein Alkalinity (As mg/L of CaCO3) =
V
( A+ B)× N × 50,000
Total Alkalinity (As mg/L of CaCO3) =
V
Where,

A = ml of standard sulphuric acid used to titrate to pH 8.3

B = ml of standard sulphuric acid used to titrate from pH 8.3 to pH 3.7

N = normality of acid used

V = volume in ml of sample taken for test

Reference:

1. Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry by Jo Allan Beran

2. Vogel’s Qualitative Inorganic Analysis.

_______________________
Prepared & Approved by
Md. Faisal Bin Mahmud

2/12, Humayun Road (2nd Floor), Block-B, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207 Tel: +88-02-9116712-13
Mob: 01733376609-10, Fax: +88-02-9116714, Email: nukhan05@gmail.com, aecldhaka@gmail.com
WWW. Aecl-bd.org
 Adroit Environment Consultants Ltd.
A House of Complete Environmental Management Solutions
Sr. Chemist

2/12, Humayun Road (2nd Floor), Block-B, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207 Tel: +88-02-9116712-13
Mob: 01733376609-10, Fax: +88-02-9116714, Email: nukhan05@gmail.com, aecldhaka@gmail.com
WWW. Aecl-bd.org