USGS-NWQL: I-1735:  Sodium, dissolved, atomic absorption spectrometric

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Sodium, atomic absorption spectrometric, direct
Current Revision
1965
Media
WATER
Instrumentation
Flame Atomic Absorption
Method Subcategory
Inorganic
Method Source
  USGS-NWQL
Citation
Methods for the Determination of Inorganic Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Book 5, Chapter A1 Edited by Marvin J. Fishman and Linda C. Friedman
Brief Method Summary
Sodium is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry by direct aspiration of the sample solution into an air-acetylene flame (Fishman and Downs, 1966).
The procedure may be automated by the addition of a sampler and either a strip-chart recorder or a printer.
Scope and Application
This method may be used to analyze atmospheric precipitation, water, and brines. Two analytical ranges for sodium are included: from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L and from 0.10 to 80 mg/L. Sample solutions containing sodium concentrations greater than 80 mg/L need to be diluted.
Applicable Concentration Range
0.01 to 80 mg/L
Interferences
None of the substances commonly occurring in natural water interfere with this method.
Quality Control Requirements
Calibrate instrument using calibration standards (CAL); quality control samples (QCS); and laboratory blanks (LB) analyzed at a minimum of 1 for every 10 samples.
Sample Handling
Container Description: 250 mL polyethylene bottle, nitric acid rinsed
Treatment and handling: Filter through 0.45-um filter, use filtered sample to rinse container, acidify sample with nitric acid to pH <2
Maximum Holding Time
180 days
Relative Cost
Less than $50
Sample Preparation Methods