On-line Determination of Hydrochloric Acid in Process Effluent Streams by Potentiometric Sequential Injection Acid-Base Titration

Abstract

An on-line potentiometric sequential injection acid-base system for the titration of a hydrochloric acid solution with a standard sodium hydroxide solution in process effluent streams is proposed. A solution of 0.1 mol/l sodium chloride is used as carrier. The sample is sandwiched between two titrants in a holding coil, with the volume of the first base being twice to that of the second one and channeled by flow reversal through a reaction coil to the potentiometric sensor. A linear relationship between peak width and logarithm of the hydrochloric acid concentration was obtained in the range 0.025 mol/l - 0.05 mol/l of hydrochloric acid when a solution of 0.001 mol/l sodium hydroxide was used for the titration. Samples from process effluent streams were used to evaluate the feasibility of the method with that of an automated and manual titration. The results showed good agreement between the different methods. The percentage relative standard deviation (RSD %) was found to be less than 0.22. The sample frequency is 30 samples per hour.


South African Journal of Chemistry Vol.55 2002: 43-55