Determination of fluoride and oxalate using the indicator reaction of Zr(IV) with methylthymol blue adsorbed on silica gel

Solid-phase spectrophotometric and visual test-methods of fluoride and oxalate determination are proposed. The methods are based on the competitive reactions of ZrOCl2 with methylthymol blue immobilized on silica gel and fluoride or oxalate in solution. Absorbance of the solid-phase reagent at 590 nm decreases with the growth of fluoride and oxalate contents in solution. The developed methods demonstrate high selectivity. The interference of Bi(III) and SO42−, PO43− is eliminated by the addition of 0.01 mol L−1 solution of ascorbic acid and 0.01 mol L−1 of BaCl2, respectively. To eliminate the fluoride interference with oxalate determination 1 × 10−3 mol L−1 solution of Ca(NO3)2 at pH 1.5 was added. The anions of the organic acids were destructed prior to F− determination by ultrasonic exposition (44 kHz, intensity of ≤10 W cm−2 for 3 min). The proposed methods were applied to the analysis of mineral water, toothpaste and biological fluids.