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Flame and flameless atomic-absorption determination of tellurium in geological materials

T. T. Chao·R. F. Sanzolone·A.E. Hubert
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Abstract

The sample is digested with a solution of hydrobromic acid and bromine and the excess of bromine is expelled. After dilution of the solution to approximately 3 M in hydrobromic acid, ascorbic acid is added to reduce iron(III) before extraction of tellurium into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). An oxidizing air-acetylene flame is used to determine tellurium in the 0.1–20 ppm range. For samples containing 4–200 ppb of tellurium, a carbon-rod atomizer is used after the MIBK extract has been washed with 0.5 M hydrobromic acid to remove the residual iron. The flame procedure is useful for rapid preliminary monitoring, and the flameless procedure can determine tellurium at very low concentrations.

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T. T. Chao, R. F. Sanzolone, A.E. Hubert. 1978. Flame and flameless atomic-absorption determination of tellurium in geological materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-2670(01)83660-6

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