Comparison of Methods and Kits for Colorimetric Determination of Residual Chlorine in Water

Abstract

Abstract The use of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for residual chlorine determination in water offers 2 possibilities, one at pH 1-2 and absorbance measurement at 450 nm and another at pH 3.8-5.8 and measurement at 650 nm. The reaction of chlorine with TMB reaches its maximum sensitivity at pH 1-2. The detection limit is 2 ng/mL. A calibrated scale for colorimetric determination of residual chlorine in water with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), prepared with tropaeolin O (C.I. 14270), is described. This scale is stable for several months and can be useful in replacing the conventional and much less stable scale prepared from standard solutions of oxochlorate (I). Kits for determination of residual chlorine in water by visual comparison, including a 3-dimensional scale or a color scale printed on paper or a plastic material, are described in this article. A comparative study of the analytical qualities and applications of the TMB methods against other reagents methods is performed.