Sequential injection trace determination of iron in natural waters using a long-pathlength liquid core waveguide and different spectrophotometric chemistries

We developed a sequential injection analysis (SIA) method for the determination of iron in coastal, ground, and surface fresh waters using two different reagents (ferrozine and 1,10-phenathroline). The methodology uses a double-line SIA system to improve mixing conditions between sample and reagent solutions. A liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) with 1.0 m pathlength, 550μm i.d., and 250μL internal volume was used to enhance the sensitivity of the determination. The detection limits for the ferrozine and 1,10-phenanthroline reagent were 0.15 and 0.35μg L^-1, respectively. The system provides a linear response up to 20μg L^-1 and has a high throughput rate (41 h^-1), low reagent consumption, and also low effluent production for both reagents. The developed method was applied to natural waters (river, well, ground, potable, and sea waters) and one ref-erence water sample.