3500-Al ALUMINUM*
3500-Al A. Introduction
1. Occurrence and Significance
Aluminum (Al) is the second element in Group IIIA of the
periodic table; it has an atomic number of 13, an atomic
weight of 26.98, and a valence of 3. The average abundance
in the earth’s crust is 8.1%; in soils it is 0.9 to 6.5%; in
streams it is 400 ␮g/L; in U.S. drinking waters it is 54 ␮g/L,
and in groundwater it is ⬍0.1 ␮g/L. Aluminum occurs in the
earth’s crust in combination with silicon and oxygen to form-
feldspars, micas, and clay minerals. The most important min-
erals are bauxite and corundum, which is used as an abrasive.
Aluminum and its alloys are used for heat exchangers, aircraft
parts, building materials, containers, etc. Aluminum potas-
sium sulfate (alum) is used in water-treatment processes to
flocculate suspended particles, but it may leave a residue of
aluminum in the finished water.
* Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2001. Editorial revisions, 2011.
Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—Brian J. Condike (chair), Deanna K. Anderson,
Anthony Bright, Richard A. Cahill, Alois F. Clary, C. Ellen Gonter, Peter M.
Grohse, Daniel C. Hillman, Albert C. Holler, Amy Hughes, J. Charles Jennett,
Roger A. Minear, Marlene O. Moore, Gregg L. Oelker, S. Kusum Perera, James
G. Poff, Jeffrey G. Skousen, Michael D. Wichman, John L. Wuepper.
3500-Al B. Eriochrome Cyanine R Method
1. General Discussion
a. Principle: With Eriochrome cyanine R dye, dilute alumi-
num solutions buffered to a pH of 6.0 produce a red to pink
complex that exhibits maximum absorption at 535 nm. The
intensity of the developed color is influenced by the aluminum
concentration, reaction time, temperature, pH, alkalinity, and
concentration of other ions in the sample. To compensate for
color and turbidity, the aluminum in one portion of sample is
complexed with EDTA to provide a blank. The interference of
iron and manganese, two elements commonly found in water
when aluminum is present, is eliminated by adding ascorbic acid.
The optimum aluminum range lies between 20 and 300 ␮g/L but
can be extended upward by sample dilution.
b. Interference: Negative errors are caused by both fluoride
and polyphosphates. When the fluoride concentration is con-
stant, the percentage error decreases with increasing amounts
of aluminum. Because the fluoride concentration often is
known or can be determined readily, fairly accurate results
can be obtained by adding the known amount of fluoride to a
set of standards. A simpler correction can be determined from
the family of curves in Figure 3500-Al:1. A procedure is
given for the removal of complex phosphate interference.
Orthophosphate in concentrations under 10 mg/L does not
1
Aluminum’s occurrence in natural waters is controlled by pH
and by very finely suspended mineral particles. The cation Al3⫹
predominates at pH less than 4. Above neutral pH, the predom-
inant dissolved form is Al(OH)4⫺. Aluminum is nonessential for
plants and animals. Concentrations exceeding 1.5 mg/L consti-
tute a toxicity hazard in the marine environment, and levels
below 200 ␮g/L present a minimal risk. The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommended maximum
level for irrigation waters is 5 mg/L. The possibility of a link
between elevated aluminum levels in brain tissues and Alzheimer’s
disease has been raised. The U.S. EPA secondary drinking water
regulations list an optimal secondary maximum contaminant level
(SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L and maximum SMCL of 0.2 mg/L.
2. Selection of Method
The atomic absorption spectrometric methods (3111D and
E, and 3113B) and the inductively coupled plasma methods
(3120 and 3125) are free from such common interferences as
fluoride and phosphate, and are preferred. The Eriochrome
cyanine R colorimetric method (B) provides a means for
estimating aluminum with simpler instrumentation.
interfere. The interference caused by even small amounts of
alkalinity is removed by acidifying the sample just beyond the
neutralization point of methyl orange. Sulfate does not inter-
fere up to a concentration of 2000 mg/L.
c. Minimum detectable concentration: The minimum alumi-
num concentration detectable by this method in the absence of
fluorides and complex phosphates is approximately 6 ␮g/L.
d. Sample handling: Collect samples in clean, acid-rinsed
bottles, preferably plastic, and examine them as soon as possible
after collection. If only soluble aluminum is to be determined,
filter a portion of sample through a 0.45-␮m membrane filter;
discard first 50 mL of filtrate and use succeeding filtrate for the
determination. Do not use filter paper, absorbent cotton, or glass
wool for filtering any solution that is to be tested for aluminum,
because they will remove most of the soluble aluminum.
e. Quality control (QC): The QC practices considered to be an
integral part of each method can be found in Section 3020.
2. Apparatus
a. Colorimetric equipment: One of the following is required:
1) Spectrophotometer, for use at 535 nm, with a light path of
1 cm or longer.
 ALUMINUM (3500-Al)/Eriochrome Cyanine R Method

Figure 3500-Al:1. Correction curves for estimation of aluminum in the presence of fluoride. Above the mg F⫺/L present, locate the point corresponding
to the apparent mg Al/L measured. From this point interpolate between the curves shown, if the point does not fall directly on one of the
curves, to read the true mg Al/L on the ordinate, which corresponds to 0.00 mg F⫺/L. For example, an apparent 0.20 mg Al/L in a sample
containing 1.00 mg F⫺/L would actually be 0.30 mg Al/L if no fluoride were present to interfere.

2) Filter photometer, providing a light path of 1 cm or longer 3. Reagents

and equipped with a green filter with maximum transmittance
between 525 and 535 nm.
3) Nessler tubes, 50-mL, tall form, matched.
b. Glassware: Treat all glassware with warm 1 ⫹ 1 HCl and
rinse with aluminum-free distilled water to avoid errors due to
materials absorbed on the glass. Rinse sufficiently to remove all
acid.
Use reagents low in aluminum, and aluminum-free distilled
water.
a. Stock aluminum solution: Use either the metal (1) or the
salt (2) for preparing stock solution; 1.00 mL ⫽ 500 ␮g Al:
1) Dissolve 500.0 mg aluminum metal in 10 mL conc HCl by
heating gently. Dilute to 1000 mL with water, or

2
 ALUMINUM (3500-Al)/Eriochrome Cyanine R Method
2) Dissolve 8.791 g aluminum potassium sulfate (also
called potassium alum), AlK(SO4)2 䡠 12H2O, in water and
dilute to 1000 mL. Correct this weight by dividing by the
decimal fraction of assayed AlK(SO4)2 䡠 12H2O in the reagent
used.
b. Standard aluminum solution: Dilute 10.00 mL stock alu-
minum solution to 1000 mL with water; 1.00 mL ⫽ 5.00 ␮g Al.
Prepare daily.
c. Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, 0.02N and 6N.
d. Ascorbic acid solution: Dissolve 0.1 g ascorbic acid in
water and make up to 100 mL in a volumetric flask. Prepare fresh
daily.
e. Buffer reagent: Dissolve 136 g sodium acetate,
NaC2H3O2 䡠 3H2O, in water, add 40 mL 1N acetic acid, and
dilute to 1 L.
f. Stock dye solution: Use any of the following products:
1) Solochrome cyanine R-200* or Eriochrome cyanine:† Dis-
solve 100 mg in water and dilute to 100 mL in a volumetric flask.
This solution should have a pH of about 2.9.
2) Eriochrome cyanine R:‡ Dissolve 300 mg dye in about 50
mL water. Adjust pH from about 9 to about 2.9 with 1 ⫹ 1 acetic
acid (approximately 3 mL will be required). Dilute with water to
100 mL.
3) Eriochrome cyanine R:§ Dissolve 150 mg in about 50 mL
water. Adjust pH from about 9 to about 2.9 with 1 ⫹ 1 acetic
acid (approximately 2 mL will be required). Dilute with water to
100 mL.
Stock solutions have excellent stability and can be kept for at
least a year.
g. Working dye solution: Dilute 10.0 mL of selected stock dye
solution to 100 mL in a volumetric flask with water. Working
solutions are stable for at least 6 months.
h. Methyl orange indicator solution, or bromcresol green in-
dicator solution specified in the total alkalinity determination
(Section 2320B.3d).
i. EDTA (sodium salt of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid di-
hydrate), 0.01M: Dissolve 3.7 g in water, and dilute to 1 L.
j. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, 1N and 0.1N.
4. Procedure
a. Preparation of calibration curve:
1) Prepare a series of aluminum standards from 0 to 7 ␮g (0
to 280 ␮g/L based on a 25-mL sample) by accurately measuring
the calculated volumes of standard aluminum solution into
50-mL volumetric flasks or nessler tubes. Add water to a total
volume of approximately 25 mL.
2) Add 1 mL 0.02N H2SO4 to each standard and mix. Add 1
mL ascorbic acid solution and mix. Add 10 mL buffer solution
and mix. With a volumetric pipet, add 5.00 mL working dye
reagent and mix. Immediately make up to 50 mL with distilled
water. Mix and let stand for 5 to 10 min. The color begins to fade
after 15 min.
3) Read transmittance or absorbance on a spectrophotometer,
using a wavelength of 535 nm or a green filter providing max-
* Arnold Hoffman & Co., Providence, RI.
† K & K Laboratories, K & K Lab. Div., Life Sciences Group, Plainview, NY.
‡ Pfaltz & Bauer, Inc., Stamford, CT.
§ EM Science, Gibbstown, NJ.
3
imum transmittance between 525 and 535 nm. Adjust instrument
to zero absorbance with the standard containing no aluminum.
Plot concentration of Al (micrograms Al in 50 mL final
volume) against absorbance.
b. Sample treatment in absence of fluoride and complex phos-
phates: Place 25.0 mL sample, or a portion diluted to 25 mL, in
a porcelain dish or flask, add a few drops of methyl orange
indicator, and titrate with 0.02N H2SO4 to a faint pink color.
Record reading and discard sample. To two similar samples at
room temperature add the same amount of 0.02N H2SO4 used in
the titration and 1 mL in excess.
To one sample add 1 mL EDTA solution. This will serve as a
blank by complexing any aluminum present and compensating
for color and turbidity. To both samples add 1 mL ascorbic acid,
10 mL buffer reagent, and 5.00 mL working dye reagent as
prescribed in ¶ a2) above.
Set instrument to zero absorbance or 100% transmittance
using the EDTA blank. After 5 to 10 min contact time, read
transmittance or absorbance and determine aluminum concen-
tration from the calibration curve previously prepared.
c. Visual comparison: If photometric equipment is not avail-
able, prepare and treat standards and a sample, as described
above, in 50-mL nessler tubes. Make up to mark with water and
compare sample color with the standards after 5 to 10 min
contact time. A sample treated with EDTA is not needed when
nessler tubes are used. If the sample contains turbidity or color,
the use of nessler tubes may result in considerable error.
d. Removal of phosphate interference: Add 1.7 mL 6N H2SO4
to 100 mL sample in a 200-mL erlenmeyer flask. Heat on a hot
plate for at least 90 min, keeping solution temperature just below
the boiling point. At the end of the heating period solution
volume should be about 25 mL. Add water if necessary to keep
it at or above that volume.
After cooling, neutralize to a pH of 4.3 to 4.5 with NaOH,
using 1N NaOH at the start and 0.1N for the final fine adjust-
ment. Monitor with a pH meter. Make up to 100 mL with water,
mix, and use a 25-mL portion for the aluminum test.
Run a blank in the same manner, using 100 mL distilled water
and 1.7 mL 6N H2SO4. Subtract blank reading from sample
reading or use it to set instrument to zero absorbance before
reading the sample.
e. Correction for samples containing fluoride: Measure sam-
ple fluoride concentration by the SPADNS or electrode method.
Either:
1) Add the same amount of fluoride as in the sample to each
aluminum standard, or
2) Determine fluoride correction from the set of curves in
Figure 3500-Al:1.
5. Calculation
␮g Al (in 50 mL final volume)
mg Al/L ⫽
mL sample
6. Precision and Bias
A synthetic sample containing 520 ␮g Al/L and no interfer-
ence in distilled water was analyzed by the Eriochrome cyanine
 ALUMINUM (3500-Al)/Eriochrome Cyanine R Method
R method in 27 laboratories. Relative standard deviation was
34.4% and relative error 1.7%.
A second synthetic sample containing 50 ␮g Al/L, 500 ␮g
Ba/L, and 5 ␮g Be/L in distilled water was analyzed in 35
laboratories. Relative standard deviation was 38.5% and relative
error 22.0%.
A third synthetic sample containing 500 ␮g Al/L, 50 ␮g Cd/L,
110 ␮g Cr/L, 1000 ␮g Cu/L, 300 ␮g Fe/L, 70 ␮g Pb/L, 50 ␮g
Mn/L, 150 ␮g Ag/L, and 650 ␮g Zn/L in distilled water was
analyzed in 26 laboratories. Relative standard deviation was
28.8% and relative error 6.2%.
A fourth synthetic sample containing 540 ␮g Al/L and 2.5 mg
polyphosphate/L in distilled water was analyzed in 16 laborato-
ries that hydrolyzed the sample in the prescribed manner. Rela-
tive standard deviation was 44.3% and relative error 1.3%. In 12
laboratories that applied no corrective measures, the relative
standard deviation was 49.2% and the relative error 8.9%.
A fifth synthetic sample containing 480 ␮g Al/L and 750 ␮g
F/L in distilled water was analyzed in 16 laboratories that relied
on the curve to correct for the fluoride content. Relative standard
deviation was 25.5% and relative error 2.3%. The 17 laboratories
that added fluoride to the aluminum standards showed a relative
standard deviation of 22.5% and a relative error of 7.1%.
7. Bibliography
SHULL, K.E. & G.R. GUTHAN. 1967. Rapid modified Eriochrome cyanine
R method for determination of aluminum in water. J. Amer. Water
Works Assoc. 59:1456.