DETERMINATION OF SELENIUM AND TELLURIUM IN ELECTROLYTIC COPPER BY ANODIC-STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY AT A GOLD FILM ELECTRODE

A simple procedure for the determination of selenium and tellurium in electrolytic copper is described. These two elements are first separated from copper by passing an ammoniacal solution of the sample through Chelex-100 resin. Voltammetric interferences from nitrite liberated during the dissolution of the metal sample in nitric acid and from arsenic and antimony present in the metal are eliminated by addition of hydrogen peroxide. Excess of peroxide is quickly decomposed by the copper(II) ions present. As little as 0.01 μg Se g-1 and 0.02 μg Te g-1 can be determined; relative standard deviations (n = 5) are in the ranges 1.4-3.7% for selenium concentrations of 7.3-0.6 ppm in copper and 1.6-3.1% for tellurium concentrations of 4.6-0.5 ppm. © 1979.