Sine-wave polarographic determination of zirconium or niobium in aqueous media

The sine-wave polarographic determination of zirconium in aqueous media was investigated using solutions which were 0.55 – 5.5·10^-3M in zirconyl chloride and 1 M in potassium chloride and had been adjusted to pH 2.0 with hydrochloric acid. It was possible to determine zirconium in the concentration range of 0.05 to 0.4 mg per ml. The sine-wave polarographic behavior of zirconium in aqueous solutions in the pH range 2–3 is discussed. The sine-wave polarographic determination of niobium in aqueous media was investigated using concentrated sulfuric acid containing 5 to 0.1 mg of niobium per ml in a supporting electrolyte of citric acid; the determination of niobium was possible down to 0.1 mg of niobium per ml of concentrated sulfuric acid although the D.C. polarographic method was impractical for the determination of less than 0.5 mg of niobium per ml.