An improved flow-injection system for spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum and tungsten in tool steels

A flow-injection procedure for simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of tungsten and molybdenum in steel alloys is proposed. The method exploits the catalytic effects of Mo(VI) and W(VI) on the rate of iodide oxidation by hydrogen peroxide under acidic conditions. A novel strategy for ion-exchange separation of the potential interfering species is proposed, and an AG50W-X8 cationic resin mini-column is used. The sample is injected twice, originating two sequential plugs, citrate being added to one of them in order to suppress the W(VI) catalytic activity thus providing the kinetic discrimination.The system handles 70 samples per hour and requires 1.6 mg KI per determination. A linear response is verified up to 10 mg l⁻¹ Mo (or W) in the injectate, and signal additivity is 98-103%. Results are precise (R.S.D. < 0.04) and in agreement with ICP-OES. Running a standard reference material (IPT-50) assessed also accuracy.     

Mixed micellar medium for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum in molybdenum/tungsten mixtures

Effects of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and/or nonylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (OP) on the absorption spectra of the complexes of molybdenum and tungsten with bromopyrogallol red (BPR) were studied. Based on these effects, a mixture of CTAB and OP was thus selected as a medium for the selective and sensitive determination of Mo in Mo/W binary mixtures. Under the optimum conditions, Beer's law was obeyed over the range 0.06-0.8 mug ml(-1) Mo with molar absorptivity being 1.3x10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and detection limit 0.025 mug ml(-1). For 1.0 mug Mo, at least 20 mug W did not interfere in the determination of Mo with average recovery and relative standard deviation being 99.5% and <2%, respectively. The method developed maintained the features of simplicity and rapidity and, moreover, its selectivity and sensitivity enhanced greatly due to the use of CTAB/OP mixed micellar medium. When coupled with a compatible concentration method, the proposed method could be used for the determination of trace Mo in natural waters.     

Neutron activation analysis for the determination of contaminants in food contact materials

A neutron activation method has been developed for the analysis of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Samples weighing 2–5 g were irradiated in a thermal neutron flux of 10¹⁶ neutrons m^–2 s^–1 and measured with gamma ray spectrometry for 64 elements. With the method developed here over 50 elements can be detected at concentrations below 1 mg/kg. Correction factors were applied for neutron flux variation and counting geometry.The method was validated using reference material citrus leaves (NIST) for Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, Sr and I, and a suite of in house standards doped with Al, Cr, Co, Mg, Zn and Sb confirmed repeatability of the method. The method was used to measure inorganic contaminants in the raw polymers and retail samples of plastic packaging used in contact with food.     

Neutron activation analysis of biological materials by the monostandard method

Instrumental neutron activation analysis by the monostandard method has been applied to the analyses of biological NBS standard reference materials; 1571 Orchard Leaves and 1577 Bovine Liver. Aluminum foils containing 0.100% gold or 2.00% cobalt were used as the monostandards. The gamma-ray spectral data were recorded on punched paper tape and were analyzed by a computer assisted data processing. The following 25 elements were determined: Al, Ca, Cl Cu, Mg, Mn, V (by short period irradiation), As, Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm and Zn (by long period irradiation). The results were compared with the certified values by NBS and the reported values in literatures to prove the reliability and accuracy of the monostandard method.     

Anion-exchange separation and spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum and tungsten in silicate rocks

A combined ion-exchange spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of molybdenum and tungsten in silicate rocks. After the decomposition of samples with a mixture of sulphuric, nitric and hydrofluoric acids, traces of molybdenum and tungsten are separated from other elements by anion-exchange in acid sulphate media containing hydrogen peroxide. The adsorbed molybdenum and tungsten can easily be stripped from the column by elution with sodium hydroxide-sodium chloride solution. The adsorption and desorption steps provide selective concentration of molybdenum and tungsten, allowing the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of the two metals with dithiol. Results on the quantitative determination of molybdenum and tungsten in the U.S. Geological Survey standard samples are included.     

Neutron activation determination of noble metals for the analysis of technological and natural materials

Two previously developed methods of noble metal neutron activation (NA) determination have been applied for the analysis of technological materials. While comparing the data obtained by both methods with those obtained in Central Chemical Laboratory the systematical discreapences have been shown to be absent. A new method of Pd, Au, Pt and Ir NA determination in natural and technological specimens based on the selective extraction of Pd and Au preliminary to irradiation has been developed. Results of the analysis of “Glomar Cellenger”'s deep-water drilling samples are discussed obtained by this method.     

Neutron activation method for nitrogen determination in biological specimens

For the determination of the nitrogen content in plants, 14 MeV neutron activation analysis was used based on the determination of the elemental concentration by measuring the area of the gamma-radiation of the radionuclide¹³N as a result of¹⁴N(n, 2n)¹³N reaction. Three methods were tested in order to obtain quantitative results: comparator method, method for absolute determination of the neutron flux and monitor method. Using the monitor method, results for nitrogen content in plant species were obtained-for beans 74.8% and for maize 1.8%. The precision of determination is ±10%. The possible sources of errors are analyzed. The efficiency of the Ge(Li) detector has been determined using a combined -source in the energy interval 120–1400 keV with precision of 4.5%. The sensitivity achieved was 4 mg or 47 imp/mg per min.     

Gravimetric determination of molybdenum and tungsten using pyridoin as a reagent

Summary Pyridoin has been used as a reagent for the gravimetric determination of molybdenum and tungsten. The reagent quantitatively precipitates molybdenum from ammonium molybdate solution at p_H 2.0–9.5 and tungsten from sodium tungstate solution at p_H 2.0–4.5. The precipitate in each case is ignited to the oxide and weighed.

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Zusammenfassung Zur gravimetrischen Bestimmung von Molybdän und Wolfram wird Pyridoin als Reagens empfohlen. Molybdän wurde aus Ammoniummolybdatlösung bei p_H 2,0–9,5 quantitativ ausgefällt, Wolfram aus Natriumwolframatlösung bei p_H 2,0–4,5. Die Niederschläge wurden jeweils zum Oxid verglüht und dieses ausgewogen.

     

Extractive separation and spectrophotometric determination of tungsten as ferrocyanide

Tungsten, in amounts ranging from micrograms to milligrams, can be extracted into isoamyl alcohol, as the tungsten(V) ferrocyanide complex obtained by reduction of tungsten(VI) with tin(II) in 4M hydrochloric acid containing ferrocyanide. It can thus be separated from iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, silicon, calcium and copper, their precipitation being prevented by addition of glycerol and, in the case of iron, sulphosalicyclic acid. Molybdenum, vanadium and nickel are not separated from tungsten, however. Tungsten can also be determined spectrophotometrically as tungsten(V) ferrocyanide. The absorbance of the brown complex is measured in aqueous solution or preferably after extraction into isoamyl alcohol. As many alloying elements interfere, they should be separated by the ferrocyanide extraction or other suitable method. Both the separation and the determination methods give satisfactory results with an overall error of not more than 0.5% in the analysis of practical samples containing low or high percentages of tungsten.     

Determination of molybdenum in biological materials by neutron activation

A method of the determination of molybdenum in biological materials by neutron activation is described. The method is based on the γ-spectrometric measurement of^99mTc after radiochemical separation of the latter by substoichiometric extraction with tetraphenylarsonium chloride using rhenium as inactive carrier. The method has been tested with reference materials.     

Ion-exchange separation and spectrophotometric determination of titanium in biological materials

Summary A combined anion-exchange-spectrophotometric method has been worked out for the determination of titanium in biological materials. The sample is dry-ashed at 420°C. The ash (ca. 0.5 g) is then decomposed with a mixture of nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids, and is finally taken up in hydrochloric acid. The titanium is collected by anion-exchange on an Amberlite CG 400 (SCN^–) column from 1 M thiocyanate — 1 M hydrochloric acid solution and eluted with 4 M hydrochloric acid. Titanium is subsequently determined spectrophotometrically with diantipyrylmethane. Results of the determination of titanium in various materials of biological origin and in two NBS standard biological samples are compiled. Standard deviations are in the range of 3–9% (2.4% in synthetic mixtures).

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Spurenbestimmung von Titan in biologischem Material durch Kombination von Anionenaustauscher-Trennung und Spektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Bei der vorgeschlagenen Methode wird die Probe bei 420° C trocken verascht, die Asche mit einer Mischung von Salpeter-, Perchlor- und Flußsäure aufgeschlossen und in Salzsäure aufgenommen. Titan wird dann aus 1 M Thiocyanat-Salzsäurelösung an dem Anionenaustauscher Amberlite CG 400 (SCN^–) adsorbiert und mit 4M Salzsäure eluiert. Danach erfolgt die spektralphotometrische Bestimmung mit Diantipyrylmethan. Das Verfahren wurde auf synthetische Gemische, verschiedenartige biologische Materialien und zwei NBS-Standardsubstanzen angewendet. Die Standardabweichungen liegen im Bereich von 3–9% (2,4% für synthetische Gemische).

     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum as a thiocyanate-2-acetylpyridinethiosemicarbazone complex

A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of molybdenum is based on the extraction of the orange red molybdenum thiocyanate-2-acetylpyridinethiosemicarbazone complex into chloroform from hydrochloric acid. The complex has an absorption maximum at 470 nm with a molar absorptivity of 1.7 × 10⁴ liters mol^?1 cm^?1. Beer's law is valid from 0.1 to 6.5 ppm of molybdenum. The equilibrium shift method indicated a 1:4:2 complex. The method has been used successfully for the determination of molybdenum in molybdenum steels.     

Thallium determination in biological materials by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

Summary The determination of thallium in biological materials sometimes cause problems because of the low concentrations of this toxic element. In the present work a method is described which optimizes the parameters affecting the specificity and sensitivity of the radiochemical NAA of thallium in biological samples. High thermal neutron flux, complete decomposition of the organic matter by pressurized digestion, TlI precipitations, liquid extraction of HTlBr₄ and La(OH)₃ scavenging purification are the steps leading to the final homogeneous preparation of Tl₂CrO₄ for -activity measurement. The method was applied to various materials as bovine liver, bone and nails. Good agreement was found between certified and determined thallium concentrations of the reference material CRM 176. The chemical yield comes to about 80%, with low deviations. The sensitivity of the method is about 10^–3 g/g, the standard deviations being in the range of 3.6% (CRM 176), 14% (bovine liver), and 17% (bone). Detailed working instructions are given.     

Application of ion exchange chromatography to the activation analysis determination of sodium and potassium in molybdenum and tungsten

A method for the determination of traces of sodium and potassium in molybdenum or tungsten by activation analysis is described. Radiochemically pure sodium-24 and potassium-42 are separated from other radionuclides by anion- and cation- exchange chromatography. The limit of detection are 5 p.p.b. of sodium and 50 p.p.b. of potassium.     

Neutron activation analysis of reference materials by the k0-standardization and relative methods

Instrumental neutron activation analysis with the k₀-standardization method was applied to eight geological, environmental and biological reference materials, including leaves, blood, fish, sediments, soil and limestone. To a first approximation, the results were normally distributed around the certified values with a standard deviation of 10%. Results obtained by using the relative method based on well characterized multi-element standards for IAEA CRM Soil-7 are reported.     

Extractive separation and spectrophotometric determination of tungsten as phosphotungsten blue

Phosphotungsten blue is produced by tin(II) reduction of tungstate solution complexed with phosphate at a w/w ratio of W/P = 5, in 4M hydrochloric acid medium, and extracted with isoamyl alcohol; thus tungsten is separated from Fe(III), Ni, Co, Cr(III), V(V), As(V), Sb(III), Bi, Si, U(VI), Ca and Cu(II). In presence of bismuth (0.5 mg/ml), 99.7% W is separated in a single extraction. After alkaline back-extraction, tungsten is determined spectrophotometrically as phosphotungsten blue; it is measured at 930 nm in aqueous solution or at 900-960 nm after isoamyl alcohol extraction, the Beer's law ranges being 0.08-0.6 and 0.16-0.72 mg/ml respectively. The methods are shown to give satisfactory results in the analysis of practical samples containing some milligrams of tungsten.     

Tungsten and molybdenum co-precipitation by α-benzoinoxime for activation analysis of tungsten

The co-precipitation of tungsten and molybdenum by α-benzoinoxime has been studied. Comparison of relative yields for both elements is made. Results showed coincidence and let conclude that molybdenum can be used as tracer to calculate sample to standard relative yield for tungsten. Analyses of water samples for tungsten were made and results were also presented.