{"id":32357,"key":"Protocol_for_measuring_metals_content_in_water","title":"Protocol for measuring metals content in water","latest":{"id":1208106,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T23:32:42Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{QAS notice}}\n\n== Introduction ==\n\nThe metals content in a sample of water (for instance, Mg, Na, Pb, Fe, Zn, etc.) is a significant determinant of the quality of the water and its suitability for drinking purposes. This page outlines the protocol that can be followed to determine metals content, with a focus on the preparation required in order to run the test and how it is done at Analytical Services Unit (ASU) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.\n\n== Analyses performed ==\n\n* [http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/sw846/pdfs/3052.pdf| Total metals digest] - at the ASU, this will analyse the \"30 Element Suite\" of the following metals:\n\nAg, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn\n\n* [http://www.ungiwg.org/openwater/?q=book/export/html/140| Inductively Coupled Plasma by Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)]\n\n== Instruments and materials ==\n\n* Total digest performed at the ASU with a DigiPrep digestion block with a digital controller\n* Samples are then analyzed at the ASU with a Varian Vista AX CCD Simultaneous ICP-AES\n* 50 mL inert polymeric containers - one per sample\n* 1.0M nitric acid\n\nNote: The above materials are those that a student might have to work with at the ASU. For a complete list of materials used in the method suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency, see [http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/sw846/pdfs/3052.pdf| EPA Method 3052].\n\n== Procedure ==\n\n== Calibrating pipettes ==\n\n# Set the pipette volume to 1500<br>\n# Place a small container at the center of the analytical balance and press \"TARE\"<br>\n# Withdraw a sample of deionized water with the pipette<br>\n# Add the water to the small container on the analytical balance<br>\n# If the mass displayed is within the defined boundaries of 0.1489g and 0.1510g, the pipette is sufficiently calibrated<br>\n\n== Preparing samples for digest ==\n\n# In case the metal has not completely dissolved in the solution, the sample must first be mixed with concentrated nitric acid (1.0M):\n\n<ul>\n<li> Add 25 mL of completely mixed sample to an inert container\n<li> Add 2 mL of acid to the sample\n<li> Repeat for all samples\n</ul>\n\n# Place all the samples, without a cap, inside an incubator set at 90 degrees Centigrade and heat for 300 minutes.<br>\n# After the samples have been heated, they will need to be diluted again. Add enough deionized water to each sample to bring the volume to 25 mL.<br>\n# Place a cap on each sample and submit the set to the lab technician at the ASU.\n\n== Digesting the metals ==\n\nThe EPA method for digesting a sample and analysing the test can be found [http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/sw846/pdfs/3052.pdf| here], as provided in the link above.<br>\nAn outline of the ICP/OES analysis is provided [http://www.ungiwg.org/openwater/?q=book/export/html/140| here].\n\n== Results ==\n\nAt Queen's, the results will be provided in table form with control values provided. Concentrations will be provided in parts per million (ppm).\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Queens Applied Sustainability Group Lab Protocols]]"}