FLOTATION AND ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SILVER

The flotation of silver ions from aqueous solutions using butylamine (Bu-A) and oleic acid (HOL) as a surfactant has been investigated. The effects of HOL and Bu-A concentrations, pH and temperature on flotation efficiency were examined. Nearly 99% of silver ions was floated under the optimum conditions. The addition of some cations to the flotation medium markedly affects the floatability of silver ions. This effect could be eliminated by adding EDTA. The technique was successfully extended to float silver ions from a synthetic mixture. In the determination of silver by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, Bu-A was used to eliminate the interference effects of some organic compounds by adding it to both the sample and the standard solutions. The mechanism of this elimination is discussed. Moreover, estimation of silver ions in synthetic mixtures was demonstrated. © 1990, The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. All rights reserved.