Routine Determination of Particulate Silica in Water

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Abstract
A method is described for the determination of particulate silica in water or biogenic material. The decomposition of the sample is satisfactorily achieved by treatment with a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids. After standing at room temperature overnight, the mixture is then treated with boric acid taken up with water and analyzed for silicon by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. The reproducibility of the decomposition method is ± 5%. Recovery after addition of known amounts of pure SiO2 standards to the lakewater samples is 90 - 95%.