Further improvements in the 2,4-xylenol spectrophotometric method for nitrate

Improvements are described for the 2,4-xylenol spectrophotometric method for nitrate that reduce the elapsed and working time. Diluted (22 + 3) sulfuric acid is added quickly to the sample solution while the flask is immersed in tap water. 2,4-xylenol solution is added, the 6-nitro-2,4-xylenol formed is steam-distilled into a composite ammonia—isopropanol reagent, and the absorbance of the ammonium salt of 6-nitro-2,4-xylenol is measured. Further possible interferences are described. Br₂, I₂, ClO^-, CIO₃^-, BrO₃^-, and I0₄^-, cause low results by deactivating or destroying the 2,4-xylenol. Azide, hydrazine, and elemental carbon cause low results by reducing the nitrate in the strong sulfuric acid solution. Se⁺ causes low results because 2,4-xylenol is consumed in reducing Se⁴⁺ to the element. Pt⁴⁺ and Os⁸⁺ cause high results. Interferences from Br₂, I₂, ClO^-, ClO₃^- lO₃^-, and I0₄^- can be eliminated by reduction to the halide with sulfurous acid and precipitation with silver sulfate. Sulfurous acid reduction also eliminates interferences from V⁵⁺. Mn⁷⁺, Cr⁶⁺, S₂O₈^2-, and H₂0₂. Interferences from N₃^-, Br₂, I₂, and S₂0₈^2- are eliminated merely by boiling a 0.5% sulfuric acid solution for 30 min (and precipitating any residual halide with silver sulfate).