Evaluation of Phosphate Level in Water Samples (Ogbomoso Rivers) Using UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Method

Abstract

The study is aimed at evaluating the phosphate concentrations in some selected rivers in Ogbomoso and compares the concentration to the recommended value. The major pollutant in the rivers of Ogbomoso (Oyo State, Nigeria) is Phosphate. The concentration of phosphate in the water samples (expressed in mg per litre) was determined using a simple analytical and U-Visible spectrophotometric method. The analysis was determined by molybdenum blue phosphorus method in conjunction with UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Phosphomolybdate complex was formed by reduction with hydrazine sulphate and addition of molybdate. This obeys Lambert-Beer’s law at 860 nm in the concentration range 0.5–3.5 ppm. The reagents used are hydrazine sulphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate and ammonium molybdate. The samples analyzed by this method showed that the entire rivers are polluted with high concentration of Phosphate due to the domestic and industrial activities.