Comparison of Three Methods for Determining Total Alkalinity in Natural Waters

摘要

Three methods were used for determining total alkalinity in natural waters: (1)calculation from the difference between cations and strong acid anions (charged balance methods); (2) titration with 0.02 N CH1 to pH 4.5; and (3) the automated methyl orange colorimetric method. All three methods gave comparable total alkalinity values for 39 stream water samples collected from the Monitor, Toquima, and Toiyabe Ranger from central Nevada. The automated methyl orange method is precise and accurate and has an added advantage of a high sample throughput rate compared to the slower titration method.