The colourimetric determination of trace elements in pyrrhotite
Date
1960-10
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Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
A sample of pyrrhotite, mechanically separated from it's host rock,
is dissolved in excess concentrated hydrochloric acid. Iron and any traces
of copper present are oxidised by potassium chlorate.
The strength of the hydrochloric acid solution is adjusted to 8.0
Molar and the bulk of the iron is extracted with iso-propyl ether.
Traces of cobalt, copper, zinc, cadmium and residual iron are
separated from lead and nickel by passing the extracted solution through
a column containing Dowex 1-X10 - a strongly basic quaternary amine anion
exchange resin. The traces are adsorbed as anionic chloro-complexes.
The adsorbed metal traces and residual iron are then separated
one by one by elution of the resin with hydrochloric acid of diminishing
concentrations.
The trace metals thus separated are determined quantitatively
by simplified colourimetric techniques. The absorption of the coloured
solutions is determined with a Beckman Model D.U. Quartz Spectrophotometer,
corrected for reagent absorption and compared with the results obtained by
using known quantities of the particular metal.
A sensitivity of 1 to 2 ppm., may be expected, with results accurate
to ±10 per cent at all but the lowest concentrations.
By making suitable chemical or ion exchange separations of the
macro elements, the method may be extended to a variety of other
sulphides and acid extracts from crushed rocks, soil samples and others.
Carefully purified reagents must be used throughout.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Geological Sciences
Program
Geological Sciences