The determination of niobium in steel by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

The determination of niobium by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry is complicated by many matrix effects. For the determination of niobium in steels, the interference effects were avoided by separating the niobium and re-dissolving it in ammonium sulphate-sulphuric acid and adding tartaric acid to stabilise the solution. Potassium sulphate was added as an ionisation suppressant to all the solutions containing niobium. An aqueous solution of niobium must have a concentration in the range 100 to 1000 µg ml^–1 to give satisfactory absorption results.