The determination of barium in unused lubricating oils by means of atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

The use of a mixed-solvent system for the determination of zinc and calcium is unused oils by means of atomic-absorption spectrophotometry has been extended to the determination of barium. The excessive interference that occurs in the determination of barium because of high concentrations of calcium in certain oils has been overcome by modifying the mixed solvent in order to increase sensitivity. The work could then be carried out at much lower concentrations of barium, at which the interference has been shown to be eliminated. The procedure has been applied to a wide range of samples, and results are in good agreement with those obtained by means of X-ray fluorescence.