Carbonate alkalinity

CARBONATE ALKALINITY

Carbonate alkalinity is a measure of the carbonate and bicarbonate anions in a solution. Carbonate and bicarbonate anions contribute to alkalinity.

It is usually expressed as parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Carbonate alkalinity can determine water hardness. Higher carbonate alkalinity usually translates to harder water, which causes scale formation in water distribution systems or boilers, leading to corrosion.

Carbonate alkalinity is also known as carbonate hardness or temporary hardness.

Carbonate alkalinity is especially important in the environmental context. If a water's pH is above 8.3, its alkalinity tends to come from carbonate ions, and below that threshold the alkalinity usually comes from bicarbonate ions.

Measuring alkalinity is important in determining water's ability to neutralize acidic pollution from rainfall or wastewater.

Carbonate ions are also quite useful for purifying water. Carbonate and bicarbonate ions can bind to toxic metals in water and precipitate them out of the water thereby acting as a natural cleaning system and giving the water a sort of resistance to certain types of pollution.