ENERGY DISPERSIVE-X-RAY FLUORESCENCE (EDXRF) DETERMINATION OF LANTHANIDES AFTER PRECONCENTRATION ON 1-(2-PYRIDYLAZO)-2-NAPHTHOL MODIFIED NAPHTHALENE

A method is described for the simultaneous multielement determination of yttrium and lanthanides at microgram level. This is based on the preconcentration of these lanthanides on to 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) modified naphthalene. The optimal conditions for quantitative preconcentration viz., pH, amount of PAN modified naphthalene, time of stirring and aqueous phase volume were systematically evaluated. The quantitation of lanthanides was carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyzer, employing 241Am annular source, via their characteristic K X-rays. The developed procedure gave reliable results in the analysis of xenotime samples.