TRACE-ELEMENT CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGH-PURITY GALLIUM

An ion exchange method is described for the quantitative separation of ca. twenty trace elements from high purity gallium metal. 0.5-2 g of matrix is dissolved and subjected to a separation procedure using an a nion exchanger in hydrochloric acid followed by sodium hydroxide mediu m to preconcentrate the analytes. Desorbed analytes are then available for their quantification depending upon the availability of the techn ique and its sensitivity. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrome try and neutron activation analysis techniques have been used for thei r final determination during this work. Most of the analytes found wer e in the ng g(-1) range. Depending on the blank values, the reproducib ility of the overall procedure is 2-10%. Separation of the matrix and recovery of the analytes were essentially complete as confirmed by sta ndard addition of the analytes to the matrix and also by tracer studie s.