ON ESTIMATION OF MOLYBDENUM IN COMPLEX MATRICES USING DITHIOL AND THIOCYANATE

The complete decomposition of complex matrices containing molybdenum b y potassium pyrosulphate and its subsequent spectrophotometric determi nation using toluene 3,4-dithiol and thiocyanate was investigated. Res ults given by intermethod comparison and linear regression analyses sh ow that a very good positive correlation exists between the two method s. The analytical results obtained from various international geochemi cal certified samples (jasperiod, copper mill head, soil, manganese no dule, shale, tropical soil molybdenum and tungsten ore) agreed well wi th analytical values available in the literature. The procedure is ver y simple, inexpensive, less labour-intensive and easily adaptable and separation of molybdenum from tungsten is straight forward, hence stro ngly recommended for a quality control programme and in the evaluation of reference materials.