Determination of tellurium in copper, lead and selenium by atomic-absorption spectrometry after extraction of the trioctylmethylammonium—tellurium bromide complex

Abstract

A simple, rapid and sensitive combined solvent extraction and atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of tellurium in copper, lead, selenium and blister copper. Tellurium is extracted as the trioctylmethylammonium—tellurium(IV) bromide complex into butyl acetate and determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry of the extract. As little as 1 μg of tellurium in a sample can be determined. The extraction of tellurium from hydrobromic acid solution with trioctylamine has also been investigated.