Determination of total phosphorus in water by photochemical decomposition with ultraviolet irradiation.
A simple and convenient photochemical decomposition method has been developed for the determination of total phosphorus in natural and sewage water. Organic phosphorus compounds and inorganic polyphosphates may be completely converted into orthophosphate in the presence of 0.3M sulphuric acid and 0.12% potassium persulphate with 50 min irradiation. The relative standard deviations found for analysis of natural water (P 35 microg/l.) and sewage (P 2.4 mg/l.) were 5.7% and 1.0% respectively. The method gives results comparable to those obtained by digestion with persulphate.
Zaiyou
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Department of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Chang Chun, People's Republic of China.
Limin
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W