Evaluation of Two Spectrometric Approaches for Measuring Metal Concentrations in Drinking Water

This study aimed to compare the performance of photometric analysis and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) in determining iron concentrations in water samples. Thirty samples were collected from wells located in the Anani and Gonzacque-ville neighborhoods and analyzed using both techniques. Photometric results indicated that 26 out of 30 samples had iron concentrations below the Ivorian regulatory limit of 0.3mg/L, while three samples exceeded this threshold. In contrast, AAS measurements showed that all samples complied with the standard, with no exceedances recorded. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two methods, with photometric readings generally yielding higher iron concentrations than those obtained via AAS. This discrepancy highlights the importance of employing more precise analytical techniques such as FAAS for routine water quality monitoring, particularly when assessing critical parameters like iron.