Reactive aluminium in UK surface waters

The determination of chemically reactive forms of aluminium in 20 major UK rivers is reported. The reaction of aluminium with 8-hydroxyquinoline followed by a 15 second extraction of chelated forms into an organic solvent is used to separate reactive low molecular weight forms of the metal from more inert aluminium species. Concentrations of reactive aluminium are found to lie in the range 0 to 50 mu g l(-1). Data are presented on the performance of the speciation method and the stability of the determinand. The observed levels of reactive aluminium are discussed in relation to river quality.