Simultaneous determination, by hydride generation and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, of arsenic, antimony, selenium and tellurium in silicate rocks containing the noble metals and in sulphide ores

Abstract

A method is described for the continuous generation of the hydrides of arsenic, antimony, selenium and tellurium and the simultaneous determination of these elements by an atomic emission spectrometer with a 5-kW nitrogen-argon inductively coupled plasma source. After digestion of the sample, the analytes are separated from the matrix by coprecipitation with iron(III) hydroxide at pH 2.40. A standard additions technique is used for quantification. This method is relatively free from interferences and is applied to the determination of arsenic, antimony, selenium and tellurium in silicate rocks containing gold and the platinum-group metals (noble metals), and also in sulphide ores rich in transition metals and lead.