Erythorbic acid, sulfide and ferrous iron may cause positive interference; to prevent, test for suspected interfering agent, dilute sample with DI water as necessary, and retest. Copper and nitrite may cause negative interference; to prevent, test for suspected interfering agent, dilute sample with DI water as necessary, and retest. Delay between taking sample and testing may cause negative interference; to prevent, perform test immediately after sample is taken. Quats may cause interference by forming a precipitate and causing a yellow endpoint. | Sulfite |
Orthophosphate at concentrations greater than 25 ppm will precipitate as silver phosphate to cause positive interference. This can be prevented by diluting orthophosphate concentrations below 25 ppm with DI water. Bromide, iodide, and cyanide at all levels titrate as equivalent chloride concentrations. Sulfide, thiosulfate, and sulfite interfere but can be removed by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. Quats may interfere; to prevent add 10 drops of R-0884. | Chloride |
High halogen level may change indicator reaction from green/red to blue/yellow; to prevent, add thiosulfate prior to testing. Filming amines, quats, and biguanides may interfere and cause the endpoint to look purple; to prevent, add 10 drops of R-0884 prior to testing. | Alkalinity-P/T |
Metal ions may cause interference; to prevent, add titrant containing EDTA to sample before buffer and indicator, then test as normal making sure to count drops of titrant added initially in total required to reach endpoint. If interference still occurs, dilute sample with DI water as necessary and retest. Quats may cause interference. | Hardness-total |
Cationic surfactants and polyphosphates may cause positive interferences. Negative interferences may be caused by anionic surfactants, azoles, iron, molybdenum > 10 ppm, fluoride > 20 ppm, glutaraldehyde > 50 ppm, PBTC, HEDP, ATMP, orthophosphate, silica, zinc > 100 ppm, alkalinity > 300 ppm CaCO₃, hardness > 700 ppm CaCO₃, sulfate > 1000 ppm, and TDS > 1500 ppm. | Polymer |
Metal ions may cause interference; to prevent, add titrant containing EDTA to sample before buffer and indicator, then test as normal making sure to count drops of titrant added initially in total required to reach endpoint. If interference still occurs, dilute sample with DI water as necessary and retest. Quats may cause interference. | Hardness-trace |