Differential pulse polarographic determination of tellurium. Application of catalytic hydrogen current

Tellurium deposited on the DME displaces the reduction potential of hydrogen and this results in the formation of a catalytic hydrogen current. Differential pulse polarographic measurement of the corresponding peak enables the determination of traces of tellurium down to the 1 ppb level. Using the method of standard addition, tellurium can be determined in the presence of all the metals usually accompanying tellurium in natural and industrial materials. In the cases when the material analyzed contains a larger excess of cadmium, silver or selenium, the separation of tellurium by extraction with methylisobutylketone should be employed.