Free Chlorine (DPD)

DR 900 Analytical Procedure AP-34/900

SPECIFICATIONS
Method: Colorimetric (DR 900)
Range: 0.02 to 2.00 ppm as Cl2
Testing Time: 5 minutes

DESCRIPTION
Chlorine is such an effective biocide that most
cooling water microbio programs use chlorine
compounds to control their bacteria problems. The
success of these programs, however, is dependent
on maintaining the proper chlorine levels. This
usually requires accurate low level testing.
Chlorine can be present in water as free available
chlorine and as combined available chlorine. The
combination of free available and combined
available chlorine is total chlorine. Chlorine in
the sample, as hypochlorous acid and/or hypo- Nalco DR 900 Colorimeter
chlorite ion (free chlorine or free available
chlorine), immediately reacts with DPD (N,
N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine) to form a red
color that is proportional to the chlorine concentra- REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REAGENTS
tion. To determine the concentration of combined Required Parts and Reagents
chlorine, run a total chlorine test and subtract the
results from the free chlorine test. Description Size Part No.
DPD-F Chlorine
Powder Pillows 10 mL (100/pkg) 460-S0460A.87
ORDERING INFORMATION Nalco DR 900 Colorimeter 400-P0900.88
Order all replacement parts and reagents by their Sample cells, 10 -20-25 mL w/cap 500-P2555.88
part numbers. To be sure this product is compatible
with your treatment program, contact your local Optional Parts and Reagents
Nalco representative. Items marked with an *
are included with the kit or set. To place your Description Size Part No.
order, please contact your local customer service N/1 H2SO4 1.7 oz/50 mL 460-S0243.71
department. N/1 H2SO4 34.8 oz/1 L 460-S0243.75
N/1 H2SO4 1.06 gal/4 L 460-S0243.77
Description Part No.
pH (3-color) Test Strips (0 -14 pH), The following may interfere when present in con-
100/box 500-P3204.88 centrations exceeding those listed below.
pH (3-color) Test Strips (5-10 pH),
100/box 500-P3207.88
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
specific reagent personal safety and disposal
information.
SUPPORT
If you have any questions regarding this procedure,
please contact your Nalco representative. In North
America you can also contact the Equipment Help
Desk at 630-305-CHEM.
SAMPLING
Avoid plastic containers since these may have a
large chlorine demand. Pretreat glass sample con-
tainers to remove any chlorine demand by soaking
in a dilute bleach solution (1 mL commercial bleach
to 1 liter of deionized water) for at least 1 hour.
Rinse thoroughly with deionized or distilled water.
If sample containers are rinsed thoroughly with
deionized or distilled water after use, only occa-
sional pre-treatment is necessary.
Do not use the same sample containers for free and
total chlorine. If trace iodide from the total chlorine
reagent is carried over into the free chlorine deter-
mination, monochloramine will interfere. It is best
to use separate, dedicated sample containers for
free and total chlorine determinations.
A common error in testing for chlorine is intro-
duced when a representative sample is not ob-
tained. If sampling from a tap, let the water flow
for at least 5 minutes to ensure a representative
sample. Let the container overflow with the sample
several times, then cap the sample container so
there is not headspace (air) above the sample. If
sampling with a sample cell, rinse the cell several
times with the sample, then carefully fill to the
10-mL mark. Perform the analysis immediately.
INTERFERENCES
1 mg/L = 1 ppm
Acidity Greater than 150 ppm CaCO3.
May not develop full color or color
may fade instantly. Neutralize to
pH 6-7 with 1 N sodium hydroxide.
Determine amount to be added on
separate sample aliquot, then add
the same amount to the sample
being tested. Correct for volume
addition.
Alkalinity Greater than 250 ppm CaCO3. May
not develop full color or color may
fade instantly. Neutralize to pH 6-7
with 1 N sulfuric acid. Determine
amount to be added on separate
sample aliquot, then add the same
amount to the sample being tested.
Correct for volume addition.
Bromine Interferes at all levels.
Chlorine Dioxide Interferes at all levels.
Chloramines, organic May interfere.
Hardness No effect at less than 1,000 ppm
as CaCO3
Iodine Interferes at all levels.
Manganese, Oxidized Interferes at all levels.
(Mn4+, Mn7+) or
Chromium, Oxidized
(Cr6+)
Monochloramine Causes a gradual drift to higher
readings. When read within 1 min-
ute after reagent addition, 3 ppm
monoochloramine causes less than
a 0.1 ppm increase in the reading.
Ozone Interferes at all levels.
Peroxides May interfere.
Extreme sample pH Adjust to pH 6-7.
and highly buffered
FREE CHLORINE (DPD) DR 900 PROCEDURE
Special Note: Samples must be analyzed immediately and cannot be preserved for later analysis.
Start
1 2
Start Program Fill a sample cell with 10 mL
of sample (the blank).
80 Chlorine F&T PP
5 6
Fill another cell with 10 mL of Add the contents of one
sample. DPD-F Chlorine
Reagent Powder Pillow
(460-S0460A.87) to the
sample cell (the prepared
sample). Cap the sample
cell and swirl vigorously to
dissolve the powder.
Notes: A pink color will
develop if free chlorine is
present.
Accuracy is not affected
by undissolved powder.
Zero
3 4
Place the blank into the Press: ZERO
cell holder. Tightly cover
the sample cell with the The cursor will move to the
instrument cap. right, then the display will
show:
0.00 mg/L CI2
Read
7 8
Immediately place the Press: READ
prepared sample into the
cell holder. Tightly cover The cursor will move to the
right, then the result in mg/L
the sample cell with the
instrument cap. chlorine will be displayed.
Notes: If the sample
Note: Perform Step 8 temporarily turns yellow
within one minute of after reagent addition, or
reagent addition. the display flashes LIMIT,
dilute a fresh sample and
repeat the test. A slight
loss of chlorine may occur
because of the dilution.
Multiply the result by the
appropriate dilution factor.
This method can be used
to determine the free
bromine concentration in
water samples. Simply
multiply the test results
(as ppm Cl2) by 2.25
when performing bromine
tests. This calculation is
applicable only to systems
where no other oxidant is
present (i.e., Cl2 is 0).
 Nalco, an Ecolab Company
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