Determination of silicon in electrolyte solutions by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using platinum as a chemical modifier

Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of silicon by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using platinum as a chemical modifier. The sensitivity for the determination was improved by a factor of 15 in the presence of platinum as compared with that in the absence of a chemical modifier. The calibration curve for silicon was linear over the range 0–0.8 ng, and the detection limit was calculated (as 3σ of the blank absorbance) to be 8 pg. The concentration of silicon in the electrolyte solutions of fuel cells was determined using the platinum modifier and Zeeman-effect background correction, with 0.1 mol l^–1 of lithium chloride present as a matrix matching reagent.