Liquid-liquid extraction of zirconium with tri-n-butyl-acetohydroxamic acid and spectrophotometric determination in the organic phase with xylenol orange

Zirconium (6–121 μg) is determined with xylenol orange after liquid-liquid extraction by tri-n-butylacetohydroxamic acid (TBAH) from 6 M hydrochloric acid. Under optimal conditions (primarily, 1 1:1.5 ratio of TBAH to xylenol orange, addition of acetic acid, and measurement at 545 nm), the calibration is linear with a molar absorptivity of 34 650 l mol^?1 cm^?1. Ions which are not extracted by TBAH or donot form coloured complexes do not interfere; these include uranium and rare-earth elements. Hafnium interferes; interference from thorium is avoided by a preliminary extraction of zirconium with tri-n-octylamine.