Determination of seston alkalinity in natural waters

A simple volumetric titration method was used to determine the acid base neutral capacity of suspended particulate matter in alkaline waters. The term seston alkalinity is introduced for this variable. The method was applied to water from Chascomus Pond, which was characterized by a water temperature of 22C, a pH of 8.97, a total alkalinity of 5.78 meq per litre, a hardness of 106.2 mg calcium carbonate per litre, a specific conductivity of 1600 us per cm and a seston concentration of 133 mg per litre. Results indicated that seston alkalinity was attributable to a great extent to the insoluble forms of carbonate present.