1.

0 Objectives

The objective of the experiment is to determine the optimum alum concentration added to the
source lake water at Faculty Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB).

2.0 Introduction

Aluminon, the triammonium salt of aurintricarboxylic acid, is a dye commonly used to detect

the presence of the aluminium ion in an aqueous solution. In addition to its use in qualitative
inorganic analysis, aluminon has applications in pharyngeal aerosols. It forms brilliantly
colored lake pigments with aluminum, chromium, iron, and beryllium. Aluminon indictor
combines with aluminium in the sample to form a red-orange colour. The intensity is
proportional to the aluminium concentration. Ascorbic acid is added to remove iron
interferences. The Alu Ver 3 Aluminium reagent, package in powder form shows exception
stability and applicable for fresh sample.

3.0 Material

Alu Ver 3 Aluminium reagent powder pillow 25/pkg

Ascorbic acid powder pillow 100/pkg
Bleaching 3 reagent powder pillow 100/pkg
Cylinder 50ml
Graduated mixing 50ml
Sample cell 25ml (matched pair)

4.0 Procedure

a. Entre the stored program number for aluminium (Al)

b. Rotate the wavelength dial until the small display shows: 522nm
c. Fill a 50ml graduated mixing cylinder to the 50ml mark with sample.
d. Add the contents of one ascorbic acid powder pillow, stopper. Invert several times to
dissolve powder.
e. Add the contents of one Alu Ver 3 Aluminium reagent powder pillow. Stopper. Invert
repeatedly for one minute to dissolve.
 f. Pour 25ml of mixture into a 25ml sample cell (the prepared sample).
g. Add contents of one bleaching 3 reagent powder pillow to the remaining 25ml in the
mixing graduated cylinder. Stopper. Vigorously shake for 30 seconds.
h. Pour the remaining 25ml of mixture in the cylinder into a second 25ml sample cell
(the blank).
i. Press ‘SHIFT TIMER’. A 15 minute reaction period will begin.
j. Within 5 minutes after the timer beeps, place the blank into the cell holder. Close the
light shield.
k. Press ‘ZERO’.
l. Intermediately place the prepared sample into the cell holder. Close the light shield.
m. Take the data display.

5.0 Result

Tests Before Jar Test After Jar Test

Readings Average Readings Average
Alum (mg/L) - 0.06 - 0.23

5.0 Discussion

The necessity for demonstrative, quick, easy and safe qualitative and quantitative analytical
methods in chemistry demands searching for new reagents, as well as adapting and testing of
existing reagents. The choice of an optimal analytical reagent in the selected analysis mainly
is determined by selective and sensitive reaction of the element to be determined with the
reagent, by the stability of the reagent, and by the stability of the formed compound.
Aluminon is a widely distributed reagent in analytical chemistry. The ability of it to form
coloured complexes with several metal ions could be used successfully for determination of
these ions even in very low concentrations.

The use of ascorbic acid to eliminate interference from iron in the aluminon method for
determining aluminium in plant and soil extracts. The aluminon method of Hsu for the
determination of aluminium in soil has been examined for interference from the presence of
iron and copper. Only iron(III) interfered. The use of thioglycollic acid not only eliminated
this interference but bleached the colour of the aluminon reagent and caused a reduction in
sensitivity. Ascorbic acid, however, eliminated it without bleaching the colour of the reagent,
the addition of 1 ml of a 0·50 per cent. solution of ascorbic acid suppressing the interference
from up to 500 µg of iron(III). When 200 µg of copper were added to aluminium standards
no interference occurred.

When AluVer 3 Aluminum Reagent Powder Pillow Stopper added, an orange to orangered
color develops if aluminum is present. When Bleaching 3 Reagent Powder Pillow is added
this solution should turn a light to medium orange (but not colorless) upon bleaching.

From the data result we can see that the alum content before jar test that is 0.06 mg/L is less
than 0.23 mg/L after done the jar test. This is because of, during jar test, we have added a
portion of aluminium into the sample in order to form the flocculation and coagulation. That
is the reason why the content of alum in the sample which has going through jar test has the
higher value of alum in it sample.

6.0 Conclusion

Aluminon can be used as an indicator for determination of Al3+ ions. The methodology
elaborated by us allows determination of:
 Aluminum – the colour intensity on the strip / in the solution depends on the Al3+
ion concentration in analysis.