The Effect of two Comlexing Agents (Naddc and Zndbc) on the Determination of Copper Trace in Steel Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/msri/040115

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A method of solvent extraction is described for concentrating and separating the copper from an aqueous solution of steel into an organic solvent prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The choice of possible chelating agents and solvent was made after a series of preliminary experiments. More detailed experiments were then carried out with those solvent extraction systems which appeared to be most promising. This research was carried out by using NaDDC and ZnDBC as chelating agents for carrying out solvent extraction, separation of copper from steel and subsequent determination of the copper directly in the organic solvent. The copper content of steel sample solutions were determined by extraction as either a copper diethyldithiocarbamate (CuDDC) complex from aqueous alkaline solution into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) or copper dibenzyldithiocarbamate (CuDBC) complex from the acidic solution into MIBK, and then by spraying the MIBK extract into an air-acetylene flame. The conclusion is that for a rapid determination of copper in the steel samples, direct atomization of aqueous solution when dissolved in hydrochloric acid and nitric acid mixture is to be preferred if high accuracy is not required (~ 4% error). More accurate results can be obtained using a longer extraction procedure using ZnDBC (~ 1% error).

Copper; copper trace; steel; solvent extraction method, NaDDC; ZnDBC