EN
Tests For: Free, chelated and total copper in natural and treated waters
Test Range: 0–5.0 mg/L
Reagent Chemistry Used: 2,2-biquinoline-4,4- dicarboxylic salt
Basis of Test Method: Adaptation of Standard Method 3500-Cu-B
Method Detection Limit*: 0.07 mg/L
Limit of Quantification**: 0.21 mg/L
Copper occurs naturally in many waters and may also result from corrosion of pipes and fittings. The presence of copper in drinking water can give rise to dis¬colouration or an astringent taste.
Chelated copper compounds are extensively used as algicides in swimming pool water, home aquariums and other waters. Electrolytic devices which generate copper and silver ions are used in the purification of swimming pool water.
The Palintest Coppercol method provides a simple means of measuring copper in natural and treated waters over the range 0 – 5 mg/l. The test is particularly useful since it can be used to measure specifically the concentrations of free and chelated copper present in the water.
In the Palintest Coppercol method, copper salts are reduced to the cuprous form and then reacted with a 2,2 Biquinoline-4,4-dicarboxylic salt to form a purple coloured complex. This provides a measure of the free copper ions present in the sample. In the second stage of the test, a decomplexing agent is introduced and this induces a further reaction with any chelated copper compounds which might be present.
The reagents are provided in tablet form and the test is simply carried out by adding tablets to a sample of the water. The intensity of colour produced in the test is proportional to the copper concentrations and is measured using a Palintest Photometer.
