CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF COPPER AND NICKEL USING MICROWAVE-INDUCED PLASMA ATOMIC EMISSION DETECTION

Four tetradentate beta-ketoamine reagents were examined for derivatiza tion and the separation of copper and nickel as their chelates, by cap illary GC using flame ionization detection. Complete separation betwee n copper and nickel complexes was obtained in each case. The chelates were also evaluated for simultaneous, selective and sensitive spectral detection of copper and nickel at 325 and 301 nm, respectively, using microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detection. The selectivity o f copper at 325 nm with respect to nickel was high; some response of c opper at the nickel emission line was observed, but it did not interfe re with the determination of nickel. The reagent H-2(pnAA2) was used f or the analysis of copper and nickel in an ore sample. The detection l imits for both copper and nickel were 0.8 pg reaching the detector.