Flameless atomic absorption determination of beryllium in the presence of various anions and cations

Technical Report · Fri May 07 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7361606· OSTI ID:7361606

Hurlbut, J. A.; Bokowski, D. L.

A method for determining trace amounts of beryllium in the presence of various anions and cations is described. The method involves use of a Perkin-Elmer Model 503 spectrophotometer equipped with an HGA-2100 graphite furnace. The absorption signal from 20 ng/ml of beryllium varies significantly from acid to acid, and both 5 percent (V/V) nitric acid and 5 percent (V/V) sulfuric acid were studied as possible analysis solvents. Absorption signal enhancement and suppression caused by the presence of other chemicals appears similar in either solvent. Concentrations of more than 0.1M hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid suppress the signal in both solvents. Group II cations, lanthanum, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, aluminum, and silicon, when present in concentrations of 100 ..mu..g/ml, enhance the beryllium signal. The addition of 100 ..mu..g/ml of lanthanum increases the signal over two fold and masks the signal enhancement caused by the other listed elements; however, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids still interfere. The recovery of 20 ng/ml of beryllium in the presence of 100 ..mu..g/ml of lanthanum and in the presence of 100 ..mu..g/ml each of thirty elements tested is 20 ..mu..g/ml with a relative standard deviation of 4 percent and a range of 19 to 22 ng/ml. The presence of lanthanum permits direct detection of less than 1 ng/ml of beryllium in urine.

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., Golden, Colo. (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: E(29-2)-3533
• OSTI ID: 7361606
• Report Number(s): RFP-2442
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104* -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
BERYLLIUM
CERIUM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMIUM
ELEMENTS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LANTHANUM
MANGANESE
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NITRIC ACID
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RARE EARTHS
REFRACTORY METALS
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
SILICON
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFURIC ACID
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN