Determination of traces of molybdenum and tungsten by extraction and polarography of their salicoylhydroxamates

Molybdenum and tungsten salicoylhydroxamates have been extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone or a mixture of chloroform and isobutyl alcohol from 1.5M hydrochloric acid and subjected to DC and derivative pulse polarography (DPP) after addition of methanolic lithium chloride solution, phosphoric acid and water in defined proportions. Molybdenum gives two DC waves with E(1 2 ) at -125 and -525 mV and a sharp DPP peak at -75 mV, whereas tungsten shows a single DC wave at -840 mV and a DPP peak at -850 mV. The two metals can be determined down to the sub-ppm level.