Determination of dissolved sulphide in groundwaters by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry
Abstract
A rapid and simple inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) technique for the determination of dissolved sulphide at the parts per billion level in groundwater is described. Sulphide is stabilised on sampling by the addition of KOH, converted into H2S under acidic conditions and stripped from solution in a gas-liquid separator by a stream of argon. Sulphur emission intensity is monitored at 180.7 nm. Dissolved sulphate does not interfere and spectral interference from calcium is avoided.