Standard Method Series # 4500-P. Phosphorus is present in natural wastewaters as either ortho-phosphates, poly-phosphates, or organically bound phosphates. Phosphorus is an important nutrient in the biosphere. However, an excess caused by industrial or municipal discharge can result in nuisance quantities of biota (algae) being created. Due to the different forms of phosphorus, it is important to perform a "Total" digestion before analysis. SCP SCIENCE provides a number of products to assist in your Total Phosphorus Analysis. The DigiPREP family of Digestion Systems can be utilized for the digestion procedure. A variety of AccuSPEC reagents and standards are available for the various phosphate methods.