Determination of antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt and silver in complex sulphide minerals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A method is described for determining antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt and silver in ores, concentrates, residues and related materials from pilot-plant metallurgical test work on complex sulphides. Following direct decomposition with aqua regia, the various elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using an air-acetylene flame, except for arsenic, which was determined with a dinitrogen oxide-acetylene flame. Calibration graphs were constructed for solutions prepared in 3.5 M hydrochloric acid. No interferences were observed. The proposed method was employed successfully for the determination of these six elements in complex sulphide materials containing large amounts of copper, lead, zinc or iron. The results obtained for antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt and silver in some Canadian Certified Reference Material Project ores and concentrates by the proposed method were in good agreement with the certified values. The relative standard deviations were, in general, 3% or better.