The determination of niobium in metals and alloys
Abstract
A method is described for the determination of niobium in metals and alloys. Niobium is separated from the matrix elements by adsorption on to Dowex 1 anion-exchange resin from a solution of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. The niobium is eluted in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids and determined by the spectrophotometric measurement of the blue complex formed between niobium (V) and bromopyrogallol red.
The method has been applied to the determination of niobium in iron, steel, tantalum and zirconium.