Combination collectors in adsorption colloid flotation for multielement determination in waters by neutron activation

A method is described for the collection of small amounts of both anions and cations in water samples by adsorption colloid flotation with a combination collector, prior to quantitation by neutron activation. In the presence of 20 mg of iron(III) and 2 ml of 0.1 M ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, As(V), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Mo(VI), Sn(IV), Sb(III), Te(VI), Ti(IV), U(VI), V(V) and W(VI) are quantitatively collected from 1 -l samples at a pH 5.8 ± 0.1; sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium oleate are used as surfactant. Recoveries for all the elements tested are greater than 90%. Results for a number of elements in sea waer and an NBS water standard, SRM 1643a, are given.