On the colorimetric measurement of aqueous Si in the presence of organic ligands and common pH buffering agents

Abstract

The effects of the presence of ten organic ligands and common pH buffering agents – acetate, oxalate, tartrate, citrate, phthalate, EDTA, carbonate, TRIS, phosphate and borate – on aqueous Si concentration measurements made using the common molybdate blue method were quantified. The concentrations of these additives ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 mol/kg in the measured aqueous solutions. Whereas measured Si concentrations were not affected by the presence of up to 0.1 mol/kg acetate, hydrogen phthalate or TRIS, the presence of 0.1 mol/kg of all other selected additives altered substantially the measured Si concentrations using the molybdate blue method. For example the presence of 0.1 mol/kg of citrate, EDTA, and hydrogen phosphate decreased the ratio of measured to true Si concentrations to ~0.05. These variations are interpreted to stem from the formation of competing aqueous complexes in the aqueous phase limiting the formation of the characteristically blue SiMo12O404– complex.