Determination of germanium in silicate rocks and sulphide ores by hydride generation and flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

A method is described for the generation of germanium hydride and the determination of germanium by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The hydride is generated continuously and is introduced directly into a dinitrogen oxide-acetylene flame. After digestion of the sample, the germanium is extracted directly into a mixture of carbon tetrachloride and 9 M hydrochloric acid. The final extraction is into distilled water, and the germanium hydride is generated with sodium tetrahydroborate(III). The method is free from interferences, and has been applied to the determination of germanium in silicate rocks and sulphide ores. The average recovery of the germanium that had been added to the sample before dissolution was 94%.