Determination of sulphate by pH titration.

A simple and inexpensive method has been developed for the determination of sulphate and other very weak bases and acids. It utilizes the partial protonation of the weak base or the partial dissociation of the weak acid, which has not been exploited for analytical purposes thus far. The procedure consists of three pH titrations: one with a test solution of known sulphate content, the second with the sulphate sample, and the third with a blank. This method can be used in the presence of several inorganic ions and organic matrices, including non-aqueous solvents. In aqueous medium sulphate contents above 10(-3)M can be determined. The use of solvent mixtures may increase the sensitivity of the method by two orders of magnitude.