Field determination of iodide in water

A simple, fast and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the quantification of iodine and iodide in waters is described. Firstly iodide has been oxidised by sodium nitrite to iodine in HCl medium and the resulting I₂Cl^– has been preconcentrated into toluene. This can be subsequently determined in the extract with brilliant green. A ten-fold preconcentration is obtained, the molar absorptivity is (4.2×10⁴) I mol^–1 cm^–1 at 635 nm. A detection limit of 4 ng/ml iodide in water can be reached. The effect of common anions and cations have been investigated. The method has been applied to the determination fo free iodine, total iodine and iodide in river, pond and well water.