Method: M10 - pH value and acid capacity (carbonate hardness)

General

The acid capacity of a water (KA) is the molar amount of oxonium ions that the water
can accept before reaching certain predefined pH values. It is given in mmol/L.
For the acid capacity up to pH 8.2 (KA 8.2 , previously p value) HCl is used to titrate to
pH = 8.2; for the acid capacity up to pH 4.3 (KA 4.3 , previously m value) the titration is
to pH = 4.3.

Instruments and Accessories

848 Titrino plus with 801 Magnetic stirrer

6.3026.220 Exchange unit (20 mL)
6.0253.100 Aquatrode Plus with
6.2104.020 electrode cable

Reagents

Titrant: c(HCl) = 0.1 mol/L (Method 4). For very soft water possibly use c(HCl) =
0.02 mol/L. Please change the formula in the Titrino plus when using the c(HCl) =
0.02 mol/L.

Analysis

The Aquatrode has already been calibrated as per Method 1.

100 mL water sample is added to the titration beaker. The pH value is first measured
under stirring using method FOOD M10 pH.

The sample is then titrated with c(HCl) = 0.1 mol/L using pH = 3.5 as the stop crite-
rion using method FOOD M10 Ka.

Calculations

(Results given to two decimal places)

KA 8.2 = FP1 x C01 x 10 x TITER
KA 4.3 = FP2 x C01 x 10 x TITER

FP1 = mL HCl until first fixed end point is reached at pH = 8.2

FP2 = mL HCl until second fixed endpoint is reached at pH = 4.3
C01 = concentration of HCl in mol/L (0.1 or 0.02)
10 = conversion factor for mmol/L if 100 mL sample is used
TITER = titer of HCl used (Method 4)

Food M10 - 1/4 -

Remarks

Many waters have an initial pH value below 8.2 – KA 8.2 is not found and therefore
cannot be calculated (only FP2 at pH = 4.3).

For calculating the carbonate hardness please see table under Method 11.

If the CO2 content is to be determined in carbonated waters (Method 17) then KA 4.3 is
saved in the Titrino plus as a Common Variable (CV02).

Parameter

DET pH FOOD M10 pH

Start conditions
Activation pulse off
Start delay time 5s
Start volume 0.00000 mL
Dosing rate max. mL/min
Pause 15 s
Request sample ID off
Request sample size off
Request sample unit off
Hold during request on
Titration Parameters
Titration rate user
Meas. point density 4
Min. increment 10.00 μL
Max. increment off
Dosing rate max. mL/min
Signal drift 0.5 mV/min
Waiting time min. 5s
Waiting time max. 26 s
Temperature 25.0 °C
Sensor Aquatrode plus
Solution HCl
Stirrer on
Stirring rate 8
Stop conditions
Stop volume 0 mL
Stop meas. value off
Stop EP 9
Volume after EP off
Stop time off
Filling rate max. mL/min
Evaluation
Window off
EP criterion 5
EP recognition all
Fixed EP1 at off

Food M10 - 2/4 -

 Fixed EP2 at off
Calculation
Result name pH value
Decimal places 2
Result unit
Save as titer off
Save as CV off
Statistics
Statistics off
Reports
Results on
Curve on
Calculation/Statistics off
List of meas. points off
Parameters off
PC/LIMS off

DET pH FOOD M10 Ka

Start conditions
Activation pulse off
Start delay time 0s
Start volume 0.00000 mL
Dosing rate max. mL/min
Pause 0s
Request sample ID off
Request sample size off
Request sample unit off
Hold during request on
Titration Parameters
Titration rate user (default: optimal)
Meas. point density 4
Min. increment 10.00 μL
Max. increment off
Dosing rate max. mL/min
Signal drift 50.0 mV/min
Waiting time min. 0s
Waiting time max. 26 s
Temperature 25.0 °C
Sensor Aquatrode Plus
Solution HCl
Stirrer on
Stirring rate 8
Stop conditions
Stop volume 20 mL
Stop meas. value off
Stop EP 9
Volume after EP off
Stop time off
Filling rate max. mL/min
Evaluation
Food M10 - 3/4 -
 Window off
EP criterion 5
EP recognition all
Fixed EP1 at 8.2
Fixed EP2 at 4.3
Calculation
Result name Ka 8.2
R1= FP1*TITER
Decimal places 2
Result unit mmol/L
Result name Ka 4.3
R2= FP2*TITER
Decimal places 2
Result unit mmol/L
Save as titer off
Save as CV off (has to be “on” if method 17 is needed, CV02)
Statistics
Statistics off
Reports
Results on
Curve on
Calculation/Statistics off
List of meas. points off
Parameters off
PC/LIMS off

Food M10 - 4/4 -