Determination of vanadium,molybdenum and tungsten in chloralkali electrolysis brines by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The levels of vanadium, molybdenum and tungsten are critical in chloralkali electrolysis brines because these elements catalyze the hydrogen-producing side-reaction. Preconcentration by chelation with 8-quinolinol and subsequent adsorption on activated carbon, can be combined with energy- or wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits are in the μg 1^-1 range, and below the critical levels. Up to 100 /smg l^-1, reliable results are obtained for V, Mo and W. The coefficient of variation is typically 15% in the 25–100 μg l^-1 range.