TITRABLE ACIDITY OF URINE

GENERAL COMMENTS
The kidneys are responsible for the excretion of non-volatile acids produced as a result of
metabolic processes. The urine has a physiological pH of 4.8-7.5 with a mean around
6.The acidity of urine is mainly due to the presence of acid phosphates (H 2PO4-), the
minor contribution is made by organic acids like urates, oxalates, pyruvic, lactic and
citric acids. These acids are excreted in the urine as salts of sodium, potassium, calcium
and ammonium.
Titrable acidity of urine is expressed as the amount of alkali required to titrate or
neutralize the acid present in urine. In other words, it is the volume of 0.1N NaOH
required to bring the pH of urine from acidic to basic side (from 6-7.4 [pH of blood]).
CONDITIONS WHICH INCREASE THE ACIDITY OF URINE (LOW URINE pH):

DIET: Rich in proteins, meat, milk, cheese, rice whole wheat products, plums,
cherries and other acid forming foods.

FASTING/STARVATION: leads to increased fat metabolism which produces

acetoacetic acid and -hydroxy butyric acids

EXERCISE: Vigorous exercise leads to the production of lactic acid

FEVER: leads to increased rate of metabolism causing escape of sulphates and

phosphates in urine.

ACIDOSIS: e.g. in DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosois), due to lack of insulin, fat

catabolism leads to production of ketoacids, acetoacetic and -hydroxy butyric
acids.

Intake of acid producing salts for the treatment of urinary tract infection.

CONDITIONS WHICH DECREASE THE ACIDITY OF URINE (HIGH URINE pH):

DIET: A vegetable diet

POSTPRANDIAL ALKALINE TIDE: Samples of urine collected shortly after a

meal may be alkaline (high pH of the urine). Gastric acid secretion is elevated
after a meal and sufficient H+ ions are secreted into the gastric lumen, thereby
raising the pH of systemic blood and making the urine alkaline.

ALKALOSIS: due to any cause.

After the ingestion of alkali for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

From bacteria in the urine (particularly Proteus species) which generate

ammonia on decomposition of urea, a constituent of urine.

Urine may become alkaline upon standing because of the loss of CO 2 and the
conversion of urea into ammonia by bacterial action.

PRACTICAL
To determine the titrable acidity of per day urine.
METHOD:
Folins method
APPARATUS:
Burette, pipette, titration flask, urine jar, burette stand
REAGENTS:

0.1 N NaOH solution

Phenolphthalein 1% as an indicator

PROCEDURE:
Collect urine in a urine jar and then take 10 ml of urine in the titration flask. Add few
drops (1-2) of indicator i.e. phenolphthalein to it. Mix the contents of the flask well. Fix
the burette in the stand and fill it with 0.1 N NaOH solution. Note the initial reading.
Now titrate the contents of the flask against 0.1 N NaOH solution taken in the burette.
Add NaOH drop by drop until the colour of the contents of titration flask become
persistently light pink. This is the end point. Note the final reading on the burette.
(Always take the lower meniscus). Take at least 3 readings in a similar fashion and find
out the mean volume of NaOH used.
CALCULATIONS:
Volume of NaOH used in titration = X ml
For 10 ml urine volume of NaOH used = X ml
For 1500 ml urine volume of NaOH will be used = X/10 1500
(1500 ml is the average daily urine volume)
NORMAL RANGE:
200 500 ml/day