The atomic-emission spectroscopy of rhenium in the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame

Abstract

Rhenium can be determined by atomic-emission spectroscopy by use of a pre-mixed nitrous oxide-acetylene flame supported on a 6-cm slot burner. The limits of detection were 0·7 µg ml^–1(346·1 nm) and 1·5 µg ml^–1(488·9 nm); analytical working curves were linear for rhenium concentrations below 200 µg ml^–1 at both wavelengths. Spectral interference from palladium, nickel, rhodium, cobalt and large amounts of lanthanum or phosphate occurred at 346·1 nm and from large amounts of aluminium at 488·9 nm. A number of elements gave rise to chemical interference, but this was eliminated by the addition of sulphuric or phosphoric acid. A monochromator giving a spectral band pass of the order of 0·1 nm must be used for the determination, and background corrections must be made either by wavelength scanning or by measurement at the peak and at an adjacent wavelength.