Iron and hydrogen sulfide interference in the analysis of soluble reactive phosphorus in anoxic waters

Anoxic water from eight lakes containing various amounts of ferrous iron, hydrogen sulfide, calcium and total phosphorus was analysed for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). Hydrogen sulfide concentrations higher than 1 mg l⁻¹ and ferrous iron concentration above 0.20 mg l⁻¹ produce interferences in the SRP analysis in many occasions (e.g. 80% underestimation of SRP). Interfering concentrations of these materials are shown to be present in anoxic water from a large number of lakes, groundwater springs and ocean basins.The mechanisms of the interferences are discussed and methods described to prevent these analytical errors. Ferrous iron is not problematic if the sample is kept anoxic before and during filtration. On the other hand vigorous aeration is obligatory if hydrogen sulfide is present. Simple methods to test for both the possible interfering compounds are presented. It is shown for the water from the anoxic hypolimnia of eight lakes that a modified analysis of total (unfiltered) reactive phosphorus (TRP) yields on average only 2% lower phosphorus concentrations than SRP analysis. TRP hence can replace the complicated SRP analysis in anoxic waters.