ATOMIC ABSORPTION DETERMINATION OF MICROGRAM QUANTITIES OF MOLYBDENUM IN LAKE WATERS

The extraction of molybdenum by various complexing agents was studied and their atomic absorption sensitivity compared. Oxine and dithiol are among the most sensitive. Optimum conditions for extraction of molybdenum with oxine at microgram levels and the interference of certain elements in atomic absorption were investigated. Molybdenum was extracted directly from 100 ml of water by oxine in MIBK and determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy with a nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. The coefficient of variation for spiked lake water and natural lake water containing 20 μg Mo l and 5.56 μg Mo l were found to be 1.8% and 4.0% respectively. The sensitivity of the method was 1 p.p.b. © 1969.