Indirect atomic-absorption determination of boron by solvent extraction as tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cadmium tetrafluoroborate

An indirect atomic-absorption method for boron has been developed. Boric acid is converted into tetrafluoroborate and extracted into nitrobenzene with Tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cadmium(II). The cadmium in the extract is determined by its atomic-absorption at 228s>d8 nm. A fivefold molar excess of the cadmium chelate is necessary for the extraction from pH 4>d3-6>d0 medium. The sensitivity for boron is thus made about the same as that of cadmium, 0>d005 ppm. Metal ions that react with fluoride or phenanthroline interfere. A procedure is described for determination of boron in steel.