Indirect determination of vanadium by atomic absorption spectrometry

An indirect method for the determination of vanadium as vanadate by atomic absorption spectrometry is described. In neutral medium, vanadate forms a stable ion-association complex with copper (II) and biguanide, which is extractable into butanol with an efficiency higher than 99%. The copper content in the extract (and hence indirectly VO^?₃) is determined by aspirating it directly into an acetylene flame. The calibration graph is linear up to 3.4 μg ml^?1 of VO^?₃. The limit of detection is 16 ng ml^?1. Only chromium interferes.