LaMotte ALKALINITY P-T KIT User Manual

ALKALINITY P&T KIT

DIRECT READING TITRATOR, 0-200 ppm

CODE 4533-DR-01

QUANTITY CONTENTS CODE

100 Phenolphthalein T ablets T-2246-J
100 BCG-MR Indicator Tablets T-2311-J
60 mL *Alkalinity Titration Reagent B *4493DR-H
1 Test Tube, 5-10-15 mL, glass, w/cap 0778
1 Direct Reading Titrator, 0-200 Range 0382

*WARNING: Reagents marked with an * are considered to be potential health hazards.
To view or print a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for these reagents go to
www.lamotte.com. To obtain a printed copy, contact LaMotte by e-mail, phone or fax.

To order individual reagents or test kit components,
use the specifi ed code number.

NOTE: Read the Direct Reading Titrator Instruction
Manual (1649) before proceeding. Each minor

WARNING! This set contains chemicals

that may be harmful if misused. Read

cautions on individual containers

carefully. Not to be used by children

except under adult supervision

division on the Titrator scale equals 4 ppm CaCO3.

PHENOLPHTHALEIN (P) ALKALINITY PROCEDURE

1. Fill test tube (0778) to 5 mL line with sample water.

2. Add one Phenolphthalein Tablet (T-2246). Cap and mix until tablet disintegrates.
If solution does not turn red, P Alkalinity is 0. If solution turns red, proceed to Step 3.

3. Fill the Direct Reading Titrator (0382) with *Alkalinity Titration Reagent B
(4493DR). Insert Titrator into center hole of test tube cap.

4. While gently swirling tube, slowly press plunger to titrate until red color disap­pears. Read the test result directly from the scale where the large ring on the Titra­tor meets the Titrator barrel. Record as ppm P Alkalinity as CaCO3.
EXAMPLE: Plunger tip is 3 minor divisions below line 80. The test result is 80
plus 12 (3 divisions x 4) equals 92 ppm.

5. If plunger tip reaches the bottom line on the Titrator scale (200 ppm) before the
color change occurs, refi ll the Titrator and continue the titration. When recording
test result, be sure to include the value of original amount of reagent dispensed
(200 ppm).
NOTE: Do not move Titrator plunger after the P Alkalinity endpoint has been
obtained. The titration is continued in the T Alkalinity procedure.

TOTAL (T) ALKALINITY PROCEDURE

6. Being careful not to move plunger, remove Titrator and cap from test tube con­taining sample that was titrated in Step 4.

7. Add one BCG-MR Tablet (T-2311). Cap and shake until tablet disintegrates.
Solution will turn green-blue.

8. Reinsert Titrator in cap and continue titration until color changes from green-blue
to pink. Read the test result directly from the scale where the large ring on the
Titrator meets the Titrator barrel. Record as ppm T Alkalinity as CaCO3. Be sure
to include in test result value the total amount of titration reagent dispensed (i.e.
see Step 5).

9. If only Total Alkalinity is to be tested, perform Steps 1,7 and 8 only, using a full
Titrator in Step 8.

CALCULATION OF ALKALINITY RELATIONSHIPS

Results obtained from Phenolphthalein and Total Alkalinity determinations offer a
means for the stoichiometric classifi cation of three principal forms of alkalinity pres-
ent in many water supplies. Classifi cation attributes the entire alkalinity to bicarbon-
ate, carbonate and hydroxide; and assumes absence of other weak acids of inorganic or
organic composition, such as silicic, phosphoric, and boric. This classifi cation system
further assumes incompatibility of hydroxide and bicarbonate alkalinities in the same
sample. Since calculations are on a stoichiometric basis, ion concentrations in the
strictest sense are not represented in the results.

According to this scheme:
A. Carbonate Alkalinity is present when Phenolphthalein Alkalinity is not zero but

less than the Total Alkalinity.
B. Hydroxide Alkalinity is present if Phenolphthalein Alkalinity is more than one-

half the Total Alkalinity.
C. Bicarbonate Alkalinity is present if Phenolphthalein Alkalinity is less than one-

half the Total Alkalinity.
Mathematical conversion of the result is shown in the following table:

Relationships Between Phenolphthalein,

Total, Carbonate, Bicarbonate & Hydroxide Alkalinity

Result of
Titration

Hydroxide
Alkalinity as
CaCO3

Carbonate
Alkalinity as
CaCO3

Bicarbonate
Alkalinity as
CaCO3

P=0 0 0 T
P<1/2T 0 2P T-2P
P=1/2T 0 2P 0
P>1/2T 2P-T 2(T-P) 0
P=T T 0 0

LaMOTTE COMPANY

Helping People Solve Analytical Challenges

PO Box 329 • Chestertown • Maryland • 21620 • USA

800-344-3100 • 410-778-3100 (Outside U.S.A.) • Fax [phone]

Visit us on the web at www.lamotte.com

64533-DR-01 12/11