EPA-NERL: 340.1:  Fluoride by Colorimetry

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Fluoride, Total (Colorimetric, SPADNS with Bellack Distillation)
Current Revision
Issued 1971; Editorial Revision 1974 and 1978
Media
WATER
Instrumentation
Spectroscopy (Colorimetry; Photometry)
Method Subcategory
Inorganic
Method Source
  EPA-NERL
Citation
  Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes (MCAWW) (EPA/600/4-79/020)
Brief Method Summary
Following distillation to remove interferences, the sample is treated with SPADNS reagent. The loss of color resulting from the reaction of fluoride with zirconyl-SPANDS dye is a function of fluoride concentration.
Scope and Application
This method determines fluoride in drinking, surface, and saline waters; domestic and industrial wastes.
Applicable Concentration Range
0.1 - 1.4 mg/L
Interferences
Reagent Addition: Error in reagent addition is the most prominent source of error in this test.
Quality Control Requirements
None.
Sample Handling
Care must be taken to avoid overheating the flask above the solution level.
Maximum Holding Time
28 days (MCAWW, Table 1).
Relative Cost
Less than $50
Sample Preparation Methods