Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
Published on: July 24, 2016
Eliminating interference from iron(III) for ultraviolet absorbance measurements of dissolved organic matter
Timothy A Doane1, William R Horwáth
1Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, 1 Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. tadoane@ucdavis.edu
Abstract:
The presence of iron(III) has long been recognized as a difficulty when ultraviolet absorbance measurements of dissolved organic matter are desired. This interference was studied in water samples of diverse origins and properties, and a procedure is discussed which uses hydroxylamine to reduce up to 10 mg L(-1) (0.18 mM) of Fe(III) to non-interfering Fe(II). This procedure eliminated the effect of Fe(III) in all samples from about 220 to 400 nm, and removed interference down to 200 nm in most samples.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Interference
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences
UV–Vis Spectrometers
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
Extraction: Advanced Methods
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Interference

