Accurate determination of traces of sodium and potassium in rocks by ion exchange followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy

Sodium and potassium (5–1000 p.p.m.) in rocks such as peridotites and dunites can be determined accurately by ion-exchange separation followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The samples are decomposed in sulphuric, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid mixtures, and after removal of hydrofluoric acid the cations are absorbed on a 90-ml column of AG50W-X8 cation-exchange resin. Vanadium and other anion-forming elements are eluted with 0.01 M nitric acid containing hydrogen peroxide. Then the alkali metals are eluted with 0.50 M nitric acid, while Mg, Mn, Ca, Ti, Al, Fe and other multivalent elements are retained by the column. The eluate fractions containing the respective alkali metals are measured directly by atomic absorption spectrophotometry against standards in 0.50 M nitric acid. Relevant elution curves, results for synthetic mixtures and for three international rock standards are presented and discussed.