Aluminum (Zirconium)


Aluminum Products | CTL Scientific Supply

Aluminum

Precise rapid tests for water and waste water samples

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust and the third most abundant metal among all elements. It is one of the most commonly used light metals, because of its easy deformability (ductility). In nature it is not found as a genuine metal, but in the form of oxides because of its high oxygen affinity. Aluminum compounds are present only in very low concentrations in natural waters. However, in the wastewater of aluminum pickling plants, electroplating plants and paper mills, aluminum salts are present at significantly higher levels. In sewage treatment plants, aluminum compounds are often used as precipitating agents.

Physiologically, aluminum compounds are relatively harmless to humans. However, they are phytotoxic and can thus cause plankton death with the corresponding resultant environmental detriments.

Aluminum compounds have many applications, for example in aluminum pickling plants, electroplating, paper mills or as flocculants for water treatment in swimming pools.

Our Aluminum Products

Product Range REF Order
Aluminum Test Paper 10 mg/L Al3+ 90721
box of 100 strips $41.60  
NANOCOLOR® Aluminum 07 0.02 - 0.70 mg/L Al3+ 985098
1 pack (19 test tubes) $90.90  
QUANTOFIX® Aluminum 5 - 500 mg/L Al3+ 91307
box of 100 strips & reagent $67.45  
VISOCOLOR® ECO Aluminum 0.10 - 0.50 mg/L Al3+ 931006
1 kit (~50 tests) $98.20  

Reaction Basis

Depending on the product range (VISOCOLOR® or NANOCOLOR®) and test kit, one of two different reactions is underlying:

(a) Colorimetric determination with chromazurol S (VISOCOLOR®)

(b) Photometric determination with eriochrome cyanine R (NANOCOLOR®) in analogy to APHA 3500-Al D

Al3+ forms a red-violet colored lacquer with eriochrome cyanine R in weakly acidic solution. Color and intensity of the lacquer material depend on the pH of the sample. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure the specified pH range of the sample solution (pH 3–6).

Aluminum Figure

Sample preservation

After adjusting the pH to 1–2 with nitric acid, the sample can be preserved for storage for up to 1 month (storage vessel: PE bottle).

Did you know?

For the determination of total aluminum, the sample may not be decomposed in glass vessels, as aluminosilicates might be released from the glass.

Tips & tricks

  • Sea water suitability
    • All VISOCOLOR® and NANOCOLOR® Aluminum tests are suitable for sea water analysis; some require dilution (1+9). For more information, please refer to the respective instruction leaflet.
  • pH
    • For the tube test NANOCOLOR® Aluminum, highly acidic and buffered solutions have to be adjusted to pH 3–6. If necessary, adjust the pH with nitric acid or sodium hydroxide.
    • The sample solution pH values stated in the package inserts must be complied with.
  • Interferences
    • Fluoride ions interfere with all aluminum tests due to formation of very stable AlF3 in the presence of aluminum compounds in the sample solution.
    • Further interfering ions are listed in the package inserts.
  • Performance of the test
    • The sample may not be decomposed in glass vessels for the determination of total aluminum (e.g. with the decomposition reagent NANOCOLOR® NanOx Metal), as aluminosilicates might be released from the glass, leading to higher apparent results. Alternatively, the decomposition is carried out in special vessels in a microwave oven.
  • Turbidity
    • Turbid solutions must be filtered prior to the determination of dissolved aluminum; turbidity leads to incorrect results: For coarsely dispersed turbidities, use qualitative filter paper (e.g. MN 615), for moderately dispersed turbidities, use glass-fiber paper (e.g. MN 85/70 BF) or or membrane filtration set GF/PET 0.45 μm, for finely dispersed turbidities, use membrane filtration kit 0.45 μm or GF/PET 0.45 μm.
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