Determination of tellurium by atomic-absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomisation after pre-concentration by hydride generation and trapping

Abstract

A procedure for the determination of tellurium at sub-microgram levels by atomic-absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomisation after the evolution and trapping of hydrogen telluride is described. Interferences are observed in the presence of silver(I), copper(II), mercury(II) and selenium(IV) but can be overcome by suitable pre-treatment procedures. The detection limit (based on four times the standard deviation of six blank measurements) is 0.006 µg and the coefficient of variation is 4% at the 0.3-µg level.