Prices & Analytical Methods
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Summary of Methods Used and Detection Limits
The following table gives a brief description of the methods used to conduct the analyses on this report. The detection limits given below are those attainable in a relatively clean matrix. Detection limits may be higher for individual samples should insufficient sample be available, or if the matrix requires that dilutions be performed during analysis.
| PARAMETER | METHOD USED | DETECTION LIMIT |
| Alkalinity (as HCO3) |
Auto titration method APHA 2320 - B 20th Edition 1998 | 5 mg/L |
| Aluminium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.15 mg/L |
| Ammonia (total as NH3) |
Ion Selective Electrode APHA 3500-NH3 D 20th Edition 1998 | 0.1 mg/L |
| Arsenic |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.015 mg/L |
| Benzoate |
Ion Chromatography Dionex Application Note 116 – Column AS11 | 0.05 mg/kg |
| Bicarbonate (total) |
HCO3 Titration Method ASTM Standards D513-82 Vol.11.01 of 1988 | 20 mg/L |
| Boron |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.3 mg/L |
| Bromide |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.04 mg/L |
| Calcium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.05 mg/L |
| Caesium |
Flame Emission Spectrometry APHA 3500-Cs 20th Edition 1998 | 0.02 mg/L |
| Chloride |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.04 mg/L |
| Chloride in condensate |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.02 mg/L |
| Chloride |
Potentiometric Method APHA 3500-Cl D 20th Edition 1998 | 20 mg/L |
| Conductivity |
Conductivity Meter APHA 2510 B 20th Edition 1998 | 1.0 µS/cm |
| Fluoride |
Ion Selective Electrode APHA 3500-F C 20th Edition 1998 | 0.1 mg/L |
| Fluoride |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.03 mg/L |
| Iron |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.08 mg/L |
| Lithium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.01 mg/L |
| Magnesium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.01 mg/L |
| Manganese |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.007 mg/L |
| Mercury |
KMnO4 / K2S2O8 Dig. / Atomic Absorption EPA Method 245 | 0.25 ug/L |
| Mercury (low level) |
Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence US-EPA Method 1631 Revision E–Aug 2002 | 0.0005 ug/L |
|
Nitrate Nitrogen (as N) |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.03 mg/l |
|
Nitrite Nitrogen (as N) |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-BI 20th Edition 1998 | 0.02 mg/l |
| pH |
Electrometric Method APHA 3500-H+ B 20th Edition 1998 | 1 |
|
Phosphorus (Dissolved reactive) |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.008 mg/l |
|
Phosphorus (Dissolved reactive) |
Asc. acid/ammonium molybdate Colourimetry APHA 3500P-E 20th Edition 1998 | 0.004 mg/l |
| Potassium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.9 mg/L |
| Potassium |
Flame Emission Spectrometry APHA 3500-K B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.04 mg/L |
| Rubidium |
Flame Emission Spectrometry APHA 3500-Rb 20th Edition 1998 | 0.01 mg/L |
| Silica (as SiO2) |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.6 mg/L |
| Silica (as SiO2) |
Molybdosilicate colourimetric method APHA 3500-SiO2 C 20th Edition 1998 | 0.05 mg/L |
| SiO2 in condensate |
ICP-OES Alpha 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.05 mg/L |
| Sodium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.8 mg/L |
| Sodium |
Flame Emission Spectrometry APHA 3500-Na B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.04 mg/L |
| Strontium |
ICP-OES APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.003 mg/L |
|
Sulphide (total as H2S) |
Iodometric Method APHA 3500-S2 F 20th Edition 1998 | 0.2 mg/L |
|
Sulphide (total as H2S) |
Methylene Blue Method APHA 3500-S2 D 20th Edition 1998 | 0.01 mg/L |
| Sulphate |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.03 mg/L |
| Sulphate in condensate |
Ion Chromatography APHA 4110-B 20th Edition 1998 | 0.04 mg/L |
| Suspended Solids |
Filtration – GF/C Membrane (1.2um) APHA 2 350-D 20th Edition | 3 mg/L |
| Total Dissolved Solids |
Filtration, then dried @ 105degrees C APHA 2540-C 20th Edition | 10 mg/L |
| Weight Analysis of Particulates |
Gravimetric APHA 2540-D (Modified) 20th Edition 1998 | 5 ug/m3 |
| He |
TCD Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.1% |
| H2 |
TCD Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.1% |
| O2 |
TCD Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.01% |
| N2 |
TCD Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.01% |
| CH4 |
FID Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.01% |
| Ar |
TCD Gas Chromatography Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 | 0.01% |
| C2 – C5 | FID Gas Chromatography | 0.01% |
| SF6 | ECD Gas Chromatography | 0.1 ppbv |
| References for standard methods | |
| ICP-OES | APHA 3120-B 20th Edition 1998 |
| ICP-MS | APHA 3125-B 20th Edition 1998 |
| Potentiometric | APHA 4500-Cl-D 20th Edition |
| Ion Chromatography | APHA 4110-B 20th Edition |
| ISE | APHA 4500-NH3-D 20th Edition 1998 |
| δ2H | Donnelly et al, 2001 |
| δ18O | Epstein and Mayeda, 1953 |
| Gases | Giggenbach and Goguel, 1988 |
- APHA 20th Ed 1998 is the American Public Health Administration Volume on standard methods of water analysis.
- Donnelly, T., S. Waldron, A. Tait, J. Dougans, and S. Bearhop, 2001: Hydrogen isotope analysis of natural abundance and deterium-enriched waters by reduction over chromium on-line to a dynamic dual inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometer. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 15, 1297-1303.
- Epstein, S. and T. Mayeda, 1953: Variation of 18O content of waters from natural sources. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 4, 213-224.
- Giggenbach, W. and Goguel, 1989: Collection and Analysis of Geothermal and Volcanic Waters and Gas Discharges. Report No. CD2401, Chemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Petone, New Zealand.