Determination of nanomole amounts of aluminium by use of a fluoride ion-selective electrode

Abstract

Investigation of the rate and mechanism of the reaction between aluminium(III) ions and fluoride ions in buffered aqueous solution showed the possibility of determining nanomole amounts of aluminium. Potential-time curves recorded during the reaction, using a lanthanum fluoride electrode in conjunction with a reference electrode, constitute the primary data in this study. The initial rates of decrease of the concentration of free fluoride ion were calculated and shown to be proportional to the amount of aluminium in solution. A procedure is presented, based on these observations, that provides for the determination of aluminium in the range 8–300 nmol.