Automatic determination of inorganic carbon in surface waters

An automated colorimetric procedure was developed for the determination of inorganic carbon in the range 0.3–40.0 mg l^-1, and then modified to handle concentrations in the range 0.01–2.00 mg l^-1. The procedure entailed conversion of carbon dioxide equilibria products to carbon dioxide. By gas dialysis, a portion of this gas was dissolved in a weakly buffered alkaline phenolphthalein solution, and inorganic carbon was determined by measuring the loss in color of the indicator. Calibrations were linear within 1% full scale. When surface water samples were processed by the subject and by alternative methods, the colorimetric carbon results were lower by approximately 1% full scale.