Determination of molybdenum and tungsten at trace levels in rocks and minerals by solvent extraction and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Separation by solvent extraction followed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has been used for determination of molybdenum and tungsten in rocks and minerals. Samples are decomposed either by heating with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and perchloric acid or by fusion with potassium pyrosulphate, followed by extraction of molybdenum and tungsten with N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine in toluene from 4-5M sulphuric acid medium. The extract is collected on a mass of cellulose powder, which is dried in vacuum, mixed thoroughly and pressed into a disc for XRF measurements. The method is free from all matrix effects and needs no mathematical corrections for interelement effects. The method is suitable for determination of molybdenum and tungsten in geological materials down to ppm levels, with reasonable precision and accuracy.     

Determination of tungsten in silicates and natural waters

Coprecipitation with hydrous manganese dioxide is used for the concentration of tungsten from natural waters (including sea water) and from solutions prepared from silicate rocks and sediments by hydrofluoric acid attack. After dissolution of the hydrous manganese dioxide precipitate in acidified sulphur dioxide solution, cation excliange is used to separate tungsten and molybdenum from other coprecipitated elements, hydrogen peroxide being used as eluant. Molybdenum is separated from tungsten by extraction of its dithiol complex from 24 N hydrochloric acid medium containing citric acid and can be determined photometrically. After destruction of citric acid, tungsten is determined photometrically with dithiol. The overall cliemical yield of th analytical process is 94±1%. The standard deviation of the method is ±0.010 μg for sea water (0.116 μg W/l) and ca 0.05 μg/g for siliceous sediments containing 0.5–1.0 μg W/g.     

Determination of antimony in rocks and sulphide ores by flame and electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrometry

Atomic-absorption methods for determination of antimony at mug/g levels in rocks and sulphide ores by flame atomization (FAA) and electrothermal atomization (ETAA) have been described. The FAA method involves the separation of antimony from matrix elements by extraction as the iodide into methyl isobutyl ketone containing tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, from dilute hydrochloric acid solution, followed by direct aspiration of the extract into an air-acetylene flame. If necessary, antimony is first separated from copper and lead by co-precipitation with hydrous ferric oxide from ammoniacal medium and by precipitation of lead as lead sulphate. The ETAA method involves co-precipitation of antimony with hydrous ferric oxide followed by dissolution of the precipitate in dilute nitric acid, mixing with nickel solution as releasing agent, and ETAA measurement by use of a tungsten strip atomizer.     

Neutron activation determination of silver in rocks and minerals using organic sulfide extraction for silver separation

A rapid method for determination of silver in rocks and minerals by neutron activation was developed. The method is based on the quantitative and selective separation of silver by organic sulfide extraction.     

Spectrophotometric determination of tungsten in ores and steel by chloroform extraction of the tungsten-thiocyanate-diantipyrylmethane complex

A method for determining up to about 6% of tungsten in ores and mill products is described. It is based on the extraction of the yellow tungsten(V)-thiocyanate-diantipyrylmethane ion-association complex into chloroform from a 2.4M sulphuric acid-7.8M hydrochloric acid medium containing ammonium hydrogen fluoride as masking agent for niobium. The molar absorptivity of the complex is 1510 1. mole(-1).mm(-1) at 404 nm, the wavelength of maximum absorption. Moderate amounts of molybdenum and selenium may be present in the sample solution without causing appreciable error in the result. Interference from large amounts is avoided by separating these elements from tungsten by chloroform extraction of their xanthate complexes. Large amounts of copper interfere during the extraction of tungsten because of the precipitation of cuprous thiocyanate. Common ions, including uranium, vanadium, cobalt, titanium, arsenic and tellurium, do not interfere. The proposed method is also applicable to steel.     

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.     

Determination of molybdenum in ores, iron and steel by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry after separation by alpha-benzoinoxime extraction or further xanthate extraction

A simple and moderately rapid method for determining 0.001% or more of molybdenum in ores, iron and steel is described. After sample decomposition, molybdenum is separated from the matrix elements, except tungsten, by chloroform extraction of its alpha-benzoinoxime complex from a 1.75 M hydrochloric-0.13 M tartaric acid medium. Depending on the amount of tungsten present, molybdenum, if necessary, is back-extracted into concentrated ammonia solution and subsequently separated from coextracted tungsten by chloroform extraction of its xanthate complex from a 1.5M hydrochloric-0.13M tartaric acid medium. It is ultimately determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry, at 313.3 nm, in a 15% v/v hydrochloric acid medium containing 1,000 microg/ml of aluminium as the chloride, after evaporation of either extract to dryness with nitric, perchloric and sulphuric acids and dissolution of the salts in dilute ammonia solution.     

Determination of scandium in wolframite and in the residues obtained after the extraction of tungsten

The separation of scandium from iron and manganese by extraction with TBP from hydrochloric acid was studied in detail and this method was applied to the estimation of scandium in wolframite and its residues. The method consists of the extraction of tungsten from the wolframite with sodium carbonate, dissolution of the residue in hydrochloric acid and preferential extraction of iron and scandium from hydrochloric acid, stripping of the scandium with 8 M hydrochloric acid and re-extraction of accompanying iron with fresh TBP, precipitation of scandium with ammonia in presence of ammonium chloride, and final purification of the scandium by TBP extraction.     

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 Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, W, and Zn in rocks by neutron activation and anion-exchange separation

A neutron-activation method for the simultaneous determination of cobalt, copper, gallium, iron, tungsten and zinc in rocks is described. The method is based on anion-excbange separation in hydrochloric acid media. Chemical yield is higher than 97% for all elements, except for tungsten, where the recovery of the carrier is established by re-activation. The precision is about 1-3% for the iron determination and about 3% for cobalt, copper, gallium and zinc.     

Spectrophotometric determination of niobium in tantalum metal

A new method for the determination of traces of niobium in tantalum metal has been developed. The niobium is separated from tantalum by solvent extraction with hexone from hydrofluoric acid-hydrochloric acid solution, and from molybdenum and tungsten by solvent extraction with oxine-chloroform solution from ammoniacal citrate solution. The niobium is then determined by the spectrophotometric thiocyanate method.     

Determination of cobalt and zinc in highpurity niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten metals by atomicabsorption spectrophotometry after separation by extraction

A method for determining 0.0005-0.05% of cobalt and zinc in high-purity niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten metals by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry is described. After sample dissolution, cobalt and zinc are separated simultaneously from the matrix materials by chloroform extraction of their thiocyanatediantipyrylmethane ion-association complexes, at pH 3.25, from a citric acid medium approximately 1.2M in sodium thiocyanate. Interference from copper is eliminated with thiourea. Large amounts of iron interfere under the recommended conditions, but moderate amounts may be present in the sample solution without causing appreciable error in the results. Phosphorus (as orthophosphate) interferes in the extraction of cobalt from tungsten solutions. Moderate amounts of other impurities do not interfere in the proposed method.     

Determination of gallium in geological materials by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

A graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been worked out for the determination of traces of gallium in silicate rocks and minerals. The samples are opened up by fusion with a lithium carbonate-boric acid mixture and the cake is taken up with 2M nitric acid. Addition of nickel nitrate to this solution elminates the severe matrix effects allowing gallium solutions in nitric acid to be used as calibration standards. No separations are necessary. Results are quoted for 14 standard silicate rocks and two minerals. The RSD is 2.9%, and the sensitivity is 27 pg of gallium for 1% absorption.     

La détermination indirecte du tungsténe dans les minerais par voie complexométrique

The determination of tungsten by gravimetric methods is time-consuming and requires special precautions. A simple and rapid method is described for the indirect determination of tungsten in minerals by means of complexometric titration.The separation of tungsten (in the form of sodium, tungstate) is obtained by precipitation of this soluble salt by means of calcium chloride. The precipitate of calcium tungstate is filtered and decomposed into calcium chloride and tungstic acid (insoluble) by treating with concentrated hydrochloric acid.The filtrate is made alkaline and serves for the titration with a 0.1M solution of Complexon III. One ml of this solution corresponds to 23.1867 mg of WO₃. This determination of Lungyten takes 3 to 4 hours.     

Simultaneous neutron activation determination of palladium,gold, platinum and iridium in some natural materials

A method for rapid simultaneous neutron activation determination of Pd, Au, Pt and Ir in USGS standard rocks, ores and minerals has been developed based on selective extraction of determined elements. Results of determination of noble metals in standard rocks are discussed.     

Cold dissolution method for the determination of uranium in various geological materials at trace levels by laser fluorimetry

A cold dissolution procedure for the determination of uranium in various geological materials like rocks, minerals, soils etc., has been described. Samples are allowed to react with HF and HNO(3) at room temperature overnight. Boric acid is added to complex excess fluoride ions. From the clear solution thus obtained, uranium is determined directly in laser fluorimeter after the addition of fluorescence enhancing reagents. The results of few standard reference materials analysed by the present method agree with the certified values. This methodology does not require platinum or teflon ware, exhaust system and time consuming solvent extraction step. Hazardous acid vapours are not left in air, so there is no air pollution. Chemicals consumption is minimal. Therefore the method is economical. The method can be employed for high sample throughput which is the prerequisite for exploration geochemists.     

Separation of tungsten from molybdenum by liquid-liquid extraction and extraction chromatography using thiocyanate and a quaternary ammonium salt

Methods were developed for the separation of tungsten from molybdenum by liquid-liquid extraction and extraction chromatography using thiocyanate and a quaternary ammonium salt, Zephiramine. Tungsten was extracted into chloroform as an ion associate of tungsten(V)-thiocyanate complex and Zephiramine cation was retained on a column of Teflon powder coated with Zephiramine, but molybdenum(III) was neither extracted nor retained. The extraction chromatographic method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of tungsten in molybdenum by neutron activation analysis.     

The determination of bromine in rocks by neutron activation analysis

A neutron activation method for the determination of bromine in rocks and minerals is described. After removal of iodine, bromine is separated by oxidation with potassium permanganate and extraction with carbon tetrachloride. Bromine is thon precipitated as silver bromide; yields are from 60 to 84%. The method has a sensitivity of 0.001 p.p.m. of bromine and is free from interfering reactions. The values obtained for G-1 and W-1, 0.484 and 0.490 p.p.m. of bromine respectively, are lower than the average values for granites and basalts previously reported.     

Decomposition procedure with aqua regia and hydrofluoric acid at room temperature for the spectrophotometric determination of phosphorus in rocks and minerals

A rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of phosphorus in rocks and minerals is described. The sample solution is prepared by treatment with hydrofluoric and aqua regia at room temperature. Unreacted fluoride ions are complexed with boric acid. As fluoride ions do not have to be removed by heating, the method is rapid and avoids the use of platinum ware.     

Speciation, liquid-liquid extraction, sequential separation, preconcentration, transport and ICP-AES determination of Cr(III), Mo(VI) and W(VI) with calix-crown hydroxamic acid in high purity grade materials and environmental samples

A new functionalized calix[6]crown hydroxamic acid is reported for the speciation, liquid-liquid extraction, sequential separation and trace determination of Cr(III), Mo(VI) and W(VI). Chromium(III), molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) are extracted at pH 4.5, 1.5 M HCl and 6.0 M HCl, respectively with calixcrown hydroxamic acid (37,38,39,40,41,42-hexahydroxy7,25,31-calix[6]crown hydroxamic acid) in chloroform in presence of large number of cations and anions. The extraction mechanism is investigated. The various extraction parameters, appropriate pH/M HCl, choice of solvent, effect of the reagent concentration, temperature and distribution constant have been studied. The speciation, preconcentration and kinetic of transport has been investigated. The maximum transport is observed 35, 45 and 30 min for chromium(III), molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(IV), respectively. For trace determination the extracts were directly inserted into the plasma for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, ICP-AES, measurements of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten which increase the sensitivity by 30-fold, with detection limits of 3 ng ml⁻¹. The method is applied for the determination of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten in high purity grade ores, biological and environmental samples. The chromium was recovered from the effluent of electroplating industries.