EN
Tests For: Silica in Natural and Industrial Waters
Tests Range: : 0–150 mg/L
Reagent Chemistry Used: Molybdenum blue
Method Detection Limit*: 2.25 mg/L
Limit of Quantification**: 7.16 mg/L
Silicon, in the form of silica, is one of the earth’s most abundant elements. Silicon is found widely in natural waters as colloidal silica or soluble silicates.
Silica and silicates do not normally cause any problems in water intended for domestic consumption. However, their presence is undesirable in water used in a variety of industrial applications. This is because of the tendency of such water to form a hard scale on equipment. Silica and silicate containing waters are particularly troublesome in steam generating plant such as high-pressure boilers since silica scale can build up on turbine blades.
Formulations containing silicate are used in industrial water treatment, as it is necessary to control the silicate within specified levels.
The Palintest Silica test provides a simple means of measuring silica and silicate levels in natural, treated, industrial and cooling waters over the range 0–150 mg/L SiO2.
Sodium molybdate reacts with silica under acid conditions to produce molybdosilicic acid. Phosphate reacts in a similar manner.
The reagents for the method are provided in tablet form and the test is carried out simply by adding tablets to a sample of water. The intensity of the colour produced in the test is proportional to the silica concentration and is measured using a Palintest Photometer.
