Determination of Gold by High-Resolution Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Chemical Vapor Generation

Abstract

The analytical potential of chemical vapor generation and high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (CVG HR-CS AAS) with quartz tube atomization in determination of gold was evaluated. The volatile species of gold were formed by reaction with sodium tetrahydroborate(III) in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The influence of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) on the absorbance was investigated. The concentration limit of detection was 2.6 ng mL-1 for Au. The precision of measurement at 20 ng mL-1 of Au was 10% of the relative standard deviation (RSD). The accuracy of this method was validated by analyses of NRCC PCT-1a (Copper-Nickel Sulfide Concentrate with Noble Metals), NIST SRM 2710 (Montana Soil) and NIST SRM 1643e (Trace Element in Water) certified reference materials. The measured Au contents in these three reference materials were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values. This method was also applied for gold determination in coal fly ash, sediment and nickel alloy.