The determination of trace amounts of tellurium by inorganic spectrofluorimetry at liquid nitrogen temperature

Abstract

The red fluorescence of tellurium(IV) in about 9 M hydrochloric acid glass at –196° C has been used for the spectrofluorimetric determination of tellurium in the 0·02 to 0·64 p.p.m. range. The optimum conditions for the determination have been established, and the effects of fifty foreign ions have been examined at the 50-fold weight excess level. Of the ions investigated, only iron(III), tin(II) and iodide interfere. The applicability of the method to the determination of traces of tellurium in lead samples is shown.