SDCK LAB/Total Phosphorous, Hach TNT 843 Standard Operating Procedure

LR (0.05–1.50 mg/L PO4–P) Ascorbic Acid Method - Method 10210

Phosphate (PO43-) is a natural and anthropogenic component of surface waters. It is a plant nutrient,
and its presence can affect vegetation growth and thus affect aquatic habitats.

Color or turbidity in samples can cause high results. The digestion in the total phosphate procedure usually
destroys all color and turbidity and a sample blank is not required.

Recommended sample and reagent temperature is 15–25 °C (59–77 °F). Recommended reagent storage
temperature is 15–25 °C (59–77 °F).

 Refer to data sheet to track progress throughout the procedure.

 Check boxes and record times and temperatures.
 Record any and all results, and make note of results that read under the detection limits or seem
unusual.
 Change pipette tips between samples to avoid cross contamination.
 Label enough TNT test vials for each sample, and for duplicates and blanks

SDCK LAB/Total Phosphorous Hach Method 10210 Total TNT 843 SOP (Continued)

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 Do not perform step 5 until all samples have been added to vials,keep aside and put ALL samples
into the reactor at same time. Remember to process one sub-watershed batch at a time after
digestion (step 8)

SDCK LAB/Total Phosphorous Hach Method 10210 Total TNT 843 SOP
(Continued)

Before performing Step 13 set up Sample ID

 Select Instrument Setup

 Select Sample ID, and scroll for the site ID that matches
the vial label
 If you perform step 13 at this point, select main menu
after inserting vial and the instrument
will begin to
conduct test
 Repeat so all result data is stored in the
spectrophotometer and be accurately reviewed for
QAQC
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Summary of method

Phosphates present in organic and condensed inorganic forms (meta-, pyro- or other polyphosphates) are first
converted to reactive orthophosphate in the total phosphorus procedure. Treatment of the sample with acid and
heat provides the conditions for hydrolysis of the condensed inorganic forms. Organic phosphates are also
converted to orthophosphates in the total phosphorus procedure by heating with acid and persulfate. The
reactive phosphorus procedure measures only the reactive (ortho) phosphorus present in the sample. The
reactive or orthophosphate ions react with molybdate and antimony ions in an acidic solution to form an
antimonyl phosphomolybdate complex, which is reduced by ascorbic acid to phosphomolybdenum blue. Test
results are measured at 890 nm. The final samples will contain molybdenum. In addition, the final samples will
have a pH less than 2 and are considered corrosive (D002) by the Federal RCRA. Refer to the current MSDS
and SDCK LAB SOP- HAZ WASTE for safe handling and disposal instructions.

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