Atomic-absorption determination of some common trace elements in aluminium oxide and other aluminium compounds using a co-precipitation separation technique

Abstract

Atomic-absorption spectroscopy has been used to determine microgram amounts of calcium, iron, manganese, silicon, titanium, vanadium and zinc in aluminium oxide and other aluminium-rich materials after co-precipitation of these elements on zirconium hydroxide from an alkaline solution of the sample.

The proposed method serves both to separate the trace elements from aluminium and also to concentrate the elements, thus improving both accuracy and sensitivity. The method is shown to be as accurate and precise as colorimetric procedures, very much quicker and less tedious.

The trace constituents are determined in the range 5 to 400 µg in the final 25 ml of sample solution on a 2-g sample of aluminium oxide, and in the range 10 to 2000 µg on a 0·5-g sample of other materials (25-ml final volume).

Interference effects are reduced to a minimum by separation of the elements from aluminium and the provision of closely matched standard solutions.