Determination of silver, cadmium, selenium, tellurium and thallium in geochemical exploration samples by atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The determination of Ag, Cd, Se, Te and Tl in geochemical exploration samples by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after aqua regia digestion is described. Iodide complexes of the metals are extracted as ion associates with trioctylmethylammonium into isobutyl methyl ketone and determined by flame AAS (Ag, Cd) or in a graphite furnace. The accuracy of the procedure is assessed from analyses of GXR reference samples.