The accurate determination of cobalt: Gravimetric methods and in particular the phosphate method

Some gravimetric methods for determining cobalt have been examined in order to assess their value for the accurate determination of the metal. The electrolytic method was found to give high results (about 1.4%), and the anthranilate method slightly high results (0.2 – 0.3%). A modification of the phosphate method has been developed in which a former drawback, the solubility of CoNH₄PO₄·H₂O, has been overcome using a rapid spectrophotometric determination of residual cobalt. The final procedure developed has been found to give accurate results ( ±0.1 – 0.2%) and its use is recommended where this degree of accuracy is required.