Determination of trace phosphate ion in water by visual method after preconcentration on a membrane filter for field work.

A sensitive visual method based on comparing the color intensity of precipitate as phosphomolybdenum blue on a membrane filter, has been developed for the determination of trace phosphate ion in water for field work. A sample solution containing 0.05-5.0 mug of phosphate was treated in a 25-ml polypropylene syringe, and the resulting precipitate was filtered through a membrane filter attached to the syringe. The color intensity of the precipitate on the membrane filter was measured visually following the standard series method. The coefficient of variation for five measurements at 0.5 mug of phosphate is 11%. The detection limit is 0.02 mug of phosphate ion in 22.5 ml (0.9 mug PO(3-)(4)/l) of water sample when the effective filtration area is 0.78 cm(2). The interference of various ions was studied and optimum conditions were developed for the determination of phosphate ion in natural water.