USGS-NWQL: I-1447:  Magnesium, dissolved, FLAA

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Magnesium, atomic absorption spectrometric, direct
Current Revision
1985
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
Magnesium is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Fishman and Downs, 1966). Lanthanum chloride is added to mask interferences. This procedure may be automated by the addition of a sampler, a proportioning pump, and either a strip-chart recorder or a printer or both.
Scope and Application
This method maybe used to analyze atmospheric precipitation, water, and brines. Two analytical ranges for magnesium are included: from 0.01 to 5.0 mg/L and from 2.5 to 50 mg/L. Sample solutions containing magnesium concentrations greater than 50 mg/L need to be diluted.
Applicable Concentration Range
0.01 mg/L to 50 mg/L
Interferences
The interference caused by aluminum concentrations greater than 2,000 ug/L is masked by addition of lanthanum. Because low magnesium values result if the pH of the sample is above 7, standards are prepared in hydrochloric acid solution and samples are preserved in the field with use of nitric acid solution.
Nitrate, sulfate, and silica interfere, but in the presence of lanthanum chloride-hydrochloric acid solution at least 2,000 mg/L, 1,000 mg/L, and 200 mg/L, respectively, can be tolerated. The addition of nitric acid at the time of collection to preserve the samples causes no problem in the following procedure.
Sodium, potassium, and calcium cause no interference at concentrations less than 400 mg/L.
Quality Control Requirements
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
Sample Handling
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.
Maximum Holding Time
180 days
Relative Cost
Less than $50
Sample Preparation Methods