Determination of sulfate in natural and residual waters by turbidimetric flow-injection analysis

A turbidimetric flow-injection system was developed for the determination of sulfate in natural and residual water samples, with no previous treatment, using spectrophotometric detection. The precipitating agent, 7.0% (w/v) barium chloride solution prepared in 0.10% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol, was added by using the merging-zones approach. A 100 mg/L sulfate solution in 0.07M nitric acid was mixed with the sample before it entered the injection loop to improve the detection limit, provide in-line pH adjustment, and prevent the interference of some anionic species. The relative standard deviations of the results were between 1.4 and 3.0% and were in agreement with results obtained by the reference method. Samples within a linear concentration range of 10-120 mg SO^2-₄/L can be analyzed at a rate of 40/h. The detection limit is 5 mg SO^2-₄/L.