Polarographic determination of trace amounts of thorium

A sensitive linear-sweep polarographic method for the determination of thorium is described. It is based on the thorium complex with Xylidyl Blue I (XBI) in a medium containing ethylenediamine, 1,10-phenanthroline, oxalic acid and ninhydrin, at pH 10.5-11.5. The complex has been proved to be Th(XBI)(2), with log beta' = 9.6. The method can be used to determine trace amounts of thorium over the range 3.5 x 10(-8)-3 x 10(-6)M. The detection limit is 1 x 10(-8)M. A solvent extraction procedure is necessary to eliminate interference from several cations. The method has been applied to determination of traces of thorium in minerals, with good results.