CHAPTER 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 9.1. Data on the Standard Curve or Calibration Curve of Phosphates

*1m L = 50µg PO4-3

VOLUME OF CONCENTRATION ABSORBANCE AT 880nm

INTERMEDIATE (mg/L)
SOLUTION (mL)
0 0 0
1 1 0.028
2 2 0.061
4 4 0.150
7 7 0.231
10 10 0.306
15 15 0.482
20 20 0.615
25 25 0.720
30 30 0.750
35 35 0.836

Table 9.1 shows the data obtained on this experiment for Phosphates Standard. Phosphates

Standard Concentration, and actual absorbance are calculated by this formula C1V1 = C2V2

(eq’n 9.1)
 0.9

0.8

0.7

A
B 0.6
S
O 0.5
R
B
A 0.4
N
C 0.3
E
0.2

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONCENTRATION

Fig 9.1. Absorbance vs. Concentration; Standard Curve on Phosphates

The data from Table 9.1 was used to plot Absorbance vs. Concentration to make a standard curve

for Phosphates.
Table 9.2. Results on determination of Phosphates content of the water samples from Asin

Galiano River

GROUP NO. ABSORBANCE AT 880nm CONCENTRATION(mg/L)

SAMPLING POINT
1 0.138 3.8545
Orchids St., San Luis
2 0.117 3.0132
Asin Bridge #2 Upstream
3 0.234 7.7003
Asin Bridge #1 Upstream
4 0.174 5.2966
Dacag Bridge

5 0.118 3.0532
Near Cheska Store
6 0.119 3.0933
Pacac Bridge
7 0.248 8.2611
Asin Bridge #1 Downstream
8 0.265 8.9421
Asin Bridge #2 Downstream

Table 9.2. shows the tabulated data determination of phosphate contents of the water samples

from different water sampling points. For this experiment a 50 mL sample is mix thoroughly

with 1 drop of phenolphthalein and 8 mL of combined reagents which consists of 5N H2SO4,

K(SbO)C4H4O6*1/2 H2O, (NH4)6Mo7O24, and abscorbic acid and read its absorbance at 880 nm.

The phosphate contents were obtained from the Phosphate Standard Curve by projecting the

corrected absorbance to the concentration of the standard phosphate or phosphate contents were

computed using the equation of the line: y = 0.0417840895 + 0.0249622484x, where y is the

measured absorbance and x is the concentration of phosphate for more accurate reading.
 CHAPTER 4

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

From the result gathered from this experiment, the phosphate content of the water sample

from near Cheska’s Store that the researchers have conducted is 3.0532 mg/L. The phosphate

content is higher compared than 0.01 - 0.03 mg/L which is the standard level in uncontaminated

bodies of water, 0.025 - 0.1 mg/L which is the standard level at which plant growth is stimulated,

0.1 mg/L which is the maximum acceptable to avoid accelerated eutrophication (the natural

aging process of a body of water such as a bay or lake), accelerated growth and consequent

problems which are set by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The result implies that the

water sample from Cheska Store is suggested to be not safe in terms of phosphate concentration.

High level of phosphates in water become detrimental when they over fertilize aquatic plants and

cause stepped up eutrophication therefore testing the water for the presence of phosphate content

is recommended and necessary.