Determination of phosphate in urine by sequential injection analysis

Two simple turbidimetric methods for the determination of phosphate in urine are presented and compared. One method is based on the calcium phosphate crystallisation, and the other one on the inhibitory action of phosphate on the calcium carbonate crystallisation. The analytical features of both methods were: linear range = 0.2-1.5 g L-1, LOD = 14 mg L-1 and RSD 1.1-2.0% for the calcium phosphate method, linear range = 0.1-1.8 mg L-1, LOD = 0.01 mg L-1 and RSD 0.97-1.90% for the inhibitory method. Urines with high calcium content (> or = 400 mg L-1) can interfere the method based on the crystallisation of calcium phosphate. This interference was solved using a cation exchange resin as a part of the manifold. Considering the low toxicity of used reagents, these methods can be considered as a contribution to Green Analytical Chemistry.