USGS-NWQL: I-1425: Lithium, dissolved, FLAA
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Official Method Name
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Lithium, atomic absorption spectrometric, direct |
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Current Revision
| 1985 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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Flame Atomic Absorption |
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Method Subcategory
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Inorganic |
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Method Source
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Citation
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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 |
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Brief Method Summary
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Lithium is determined by flame 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 or both. |
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Scope and Application
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This method may be used to analyze water containing at least 10 ug/L of lithium. Sample solutions containing more than 1,000 ug/L need either to be diluted or to be read on a less expanded scale. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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10 ug/L to 1,000 ug/L |
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Interferences
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The following elements interfere when the indicated concentrations are exceeded: sodium, 1,000 mg/L; potassium, 100 mg/L; magnesium, 200 mg/L; calcium, 200 mg/L; chloride, 1,000 mg/L; sulfate, 2,000 mg/L; nitrate, 100 mg/L; and strontium, 5,000 ug/L. Brines need to be diluted to eliminate interference from other elements. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Calibrate instrument using calibration standards (CAL). Quality control samples (QCS) and laboratory blanks (LB) analyzed at a minimum of I each after every 10 samples |
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Sample Handling
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Container Description: 250 mL Polyethylene bottle, acid-rinsed. Treatment and Preservation: Filter through 0.45-um filter, use filtered sample to rinse containers and acidify sample with HNO3 to pH < 2. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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180 days |
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Relative Cost
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Less than $50 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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