Atomic-absorption determination of copper impurities in zirconium salts using an air-acetylene flame

Summary An AAS method is described for the direct determination of traces of copper in zirconium(IV) oxide chloride and nitrate. An interference study of the zirconium matrix is reported. Best conditions for the removal of the suppressive effect of zirconium on the copper signal by addition of hydrofluoric acid are described. Results obtained by analyzing commercial samples from different manufacturers are presented.The author thanks Prof. P. Lanza for helpful discussions.