Determination of the Concentration of K&lt;sup&gt;+1&lt;/sup&gt;, Na&lt;sup&gt;+1&lt;/sup&gt; and Fe&lt;sup&gt;+2&lt;/sup&gt; in Achane and Shay River a Case of Tepi Town

Desissa Yadata

doi:10.13189/ujc.2014.020402

Abstract

Physical environments such as rivers can be affected by the massive movement of chemicals from different human activities through run off system. Therefore the metals concentration can be fluctuated and can exceed level of tolerance and even become toxic. The objective of the work is to determine the concentration of metal ions. Water samples were obtained from two sites located around Teppi town namely Achane River and Shay River. From each river six replicate samples were obtained. The acidified plastic bottles were used for sample collection to avoid fluctuation in acidity because of different environmental factors. The standard solution used for calibration purpose is prepared by mixing the standard solution of Na+1 and K+1 metal ion. After standards are aspirated the concentration of potassium and sodium metal ions has been determined in unknown using flame photometry and Fe+2 determined by using Uv-visible spectroscopy. The concentration determined is in the range of 0ppm-10ppm. Hence the mean concentration of potassium is 2ppm and 1.33ppm in Achane and Shay River respectively. Concentration of sodium is 2.895ppm and 6.9ppm in Achane and Shay River respectively. Iron is determined to be 1.1ppm and 1.6ppm in Achane and Shay River respectively. The concentration of sodium and iron in Achane River is less than that of Shay River and potassium is higher slightly in Achane than Shay and finally the concentration of sodium in both rivers is greater than that of potassium and iron ion. No significant influence can be stated on health because of such detection; since it can be tolerated and of course improvement is needed.

Highlights

Flame photometry is a branch of atomic spectroscopy in which the species examined in the spectrometer are in the form of atoms
The standard solution prepared aspirated to the flame photometry to calibrate and establish consistence reading during measurement of the sample
The calibration curve is constructed using concentration range of 2ppm-10ppm; and the blank solution is used as the method detection limit for potassium and sodium

Summary

Introduction

Flame photometry is a branch of atomic spectroscopy in which the species examined in the spectrometer are in the form of atoms. Flame photometry is suitable for qualitative and quantitative determination of several cations, especially for metals that are excited to higher energy levels at a relatively low flame temperature (mainly Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Ba, Cu). This technique uses a flame that evaporates the solvent and sublimates and atomizes the metal and excites a valence electron to an upper energy state. Flame photometers use optical filters to monitor for the selected emission wavelength produced by the analyte species Iron is transition metal requires measurement of absorbance vs concentration using uv-visible spectrophotometer

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