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The measurement of reactive silicate in saline-hypersaline lakes: Examples of the problem

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International Journal of Salt Lake Research

Abstract

The analysis of reactive silicate or H4SiO4 in saline lake waters using the silicomolybdic acid method developed by Mullin and Riley (1955) suffers from a rather severe salt interference. Our data show that the interference occurs in waters where both chloride and sulfate are the major anions. The interference leads to lower than actual values (by as much as 50 per cent). Until the chemical mechanism of the interference is quantitatively understood, dilution with deionized water appears to be the best approach to obtaining reliable data. This may limit the technique's usage in waters of high TDS, and low reactive silicate.

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Toxey, J.K., Meese, D.A., Welch, K.A. et al. The measurement of reactive silicate in saline-hypersaline lakes: Examples of the problem. International Journal of Salt Lake Research 6, 17–23 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441866

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