Geology topics
Marvin W. Skougstad
Publications and source records attributed to Marvin W. Skougstad.
Minor elements in water
A complete characterization of natural waters includes a determination of the concentrations of 30 or more minor elements. Emission spectrochemical methods are uniquely suited to the determination of a comparatively large number of minor elements, mainly those classified as heavy metals. Spectro-chemical data published by Braidech and Emory in 1935 and more recent data by Durfor and Becker, and by Barnett, Skougstad, and Miller, provide some insight into the minor-element character of the raw- and finished-water supplies of most of the major U.S. cities. Such data permit assessment of those supplies that contain either comparatively high or low concentrations of minor elements. The concentrations of many minor elements are unchanged by the municipal treatment-plant operations between the raw- and finished-water supply. On the other hand, part of the copper in a raw-water supply may be removed during treatment, even though the over-all result is a net increase in copper in the finished water. The aluminum concentration of finished water is greater than in the raw-water supply when aluminum sulfate is used as a coagulant aid. Significant amounts of iron may be removed during treatment.
Occurrence and distribution of strontium in natural water
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Copper-spark method for spectrochemical determination of strontium in water
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Flame photometric determination of strontium in water
Preliminary search of reported methods of Sr analysis revealed several investigations which have been made for the determination of Sr with the flame photometer, both at relatively low concentrations (0 to 50 ppm Sr) and at higher concentrations. Generally the procedures described involved measurement of Sr emission at either 460.7 mu or at 681 mu. There is disagreement among those reporting methods for Sr as to the preference of the one wavelength over the other. The 681 line (or band) seems to be preferred because of its greater reproducibility and relative freedom from interference. The 460.7 mu line, however, lies in the region of greater sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube, and hence for this reason is preferred by some. This is an advantage, of course, when determining Sr at very low concentrations. This investigation is concerned with determining the optimum conditions for the determination of Sr at low concentration levels in water samples. Early experimental work indicated a greater sensitivity for the 460.7 mu (hereafter designated as 461 mu) Sr line. Therefore, most of the subsequent work was based on a study of the effects of various other materials and conditions on the emission of Sr at this wavelength.