Observations on the use of iron(II) complexing agents to fractionate the total filterable iron in natural water samples

Analysis of filtered natural water samples using Fe(II) complexing agents (bathophenanthrolinedisulphonic acid, 2,2′-dipyridyl, ferrozine, TPTZ) and acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.6) showed that the absorbance of the iron(II) complex increased with time both in the presence and the absence of a reducing agent (ascorbic acid, hydroxylammonium chloride). Exposure of the samples to 0.1 M HCl (pH 1.3) for 1 h prior to the addition of the complexing reagents resulted in a stable iron concentration which was designated the acid-extractable fraction of the total filterable iron. The results have implications for the complexometric determination of iron fractions other than total iron after acid digestion.