Ion-exchange separation and spectrophotometric determination of traces of gold.

Abstract

A combined ion-exchange — spectrophotometric method has been developed for the separation and determination of traces of Au(III) in seven metal ions: Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Se(IV) and Cd(II). Au(III) is adsorbed selectively on a DEAE column from dilute chloride solution, while other metal ions pass through the column. Au(III) is recovered by elution with 1M hydrochloric acid. Traces of Au(III) in the effluent are determined by a new spectrophotometric method, which is based on the formation and extraction of Au(III) — azide — methylene blue complex. Separations of traces of Au(III) from 1000-fold of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) and 10000-fold of Hg(II) are also effected on a DEAE column in mixed methanol 1M hydrochloric acid medium (8 ∶ 2). While Pd(II), Pt(IV) and Hg(II) are retained on the column, Au(III) adsorbs very weakly, so that the separations can be accomplished easily.