Inorganic cobalt species in seawater

Polarographic and precipitation methods were used for Co speciation in seawater taking into account only the major inorganic anionic components of seawater, such as chloride, sulphate, carbonate, hydroxide and bicarbonate. The corresponding constants were experimentally determined at the seawater ionic strength from the shift of the irreversible half-wave potential and solubility limits. The value for the carbonato-complex was obtained for the first time, while the hydroxo- and sulphato-complex values are in a fairly good agreement with the data already published. The value for the chlorocomplex was determined at $\text{I = 2.0}$ and 3.5 mol 1^?1 and extrapolated to the seawater ionic strength.The distribution of dissolved inorganic Co species in seawater was evaluated; free Co ion (hydrated) is the predominant species (about 45%) and CoSo₄⁰ and CoCl⁺ are found in approximately equal amounts (about 22%), while the fractions of CoOH⁺, Co(OH)₂⁰ and CoCO₃⁰ are between 1% and 5%.