Phosphate, ortho, CHEMets Visual Kit, CHEMetrics®

Ideal for low- to medium-range colorimetric analysis of water quality

CHEMets® test kits utilize self-filling ampules and vacuum pulls the sample up from a snap cup into the ampule when the tip is broken off. After tilting the ampule several times to mix the sample and reagent and waiting for the color to develop (usually 2 minutes or less), the analyst quantifies the result using the provided cylindrical comparator (for concentrations ≤1ppm) or flat comparator (for concentrations ≥1ppm).

Phosphorus occurs naturally in rock formations in the earth’s crust, usually as phosphate. High phosphate concentrations in surface waters may indicate fertilizer runoff, domestic waste discharge, or the presence of industrial effluents or detergents. Although phosphates from these sources are usually poly-phosphates or organically bound, all will degrade to ortho or reactive phosphates with time.

Phosphate measurement is used to control scale and corrosion inhibitor levels in boilers and cooling towers. Both methods Vanadomolybdophosphoric Acid and Stannous Chloride measure reactive phosphate, which will give a positive reaction prior to hydrolysis, and is usually termed ortho-phosphate.