PRECONCENTRATION AND DETERMINATION OF COBALT AND COPPER BY ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Cobalt and copper have been pre-concentrated by complexation with pota ssium butyl xanthate, extracted simultaneously into methyl isobutyl ke tone (MIBK) and analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Optimum co nditions for quantitative recovery have been determined by studying va rious experimental parameters. The percentage of extraction for cobalt and copper is 98% and 99% respectively. The sensitivity for cobalt an d copper is 6.3 ng/ml and 3.1 ng/ml respectively. Standard deviation f or ten determinations of 40 mu g each of cobalt and copper in 100 mi o f water sample is 0.0016 and 0.0014, and coefficient of variation is 0 .4% and 0.34% respectively.