Determination of Fluoride Using Ion-selective Electrodes in the Presence of Aluminum

We describe a method for determining fluoride with ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). Tartrate and Tris-based total ionic strength adjustment buffers (TISABs) were found to lower the interference from aluminum to a greater extent than conventional citrate-based TISABs. We adopted a solid TISAB addition method that is simple to perform, and can be carried out without lowering the level of fluoride. The apparent recovery of fluoride was 95% or higher, even at 500 mg L-1 of Al3+ when a tartrate and Tris-based TISAB was used. Interferences from common ions were not observed at 100 mg L-1 levels. We determined the fluoride content in solid silicate samples with ISEs without preliminary steam distillation after alkali fusion processing. Adding a solid TISAB mixture consisting of tartaric acid, sodium tartrate, and Tris, however, eliminated any interference from high levels of aluminum and sodium and potassium carbonates. The proposed analytical method was also applied to the determination of fluoride in geochemical reference samples.