Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of nickel after its flotation enrichment by iron(III) hexamethylenedithiocarbamate

Nanogram quantities of nickel were removed from 1 L samples of dilute aqueo us solutions by coflotation. A mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3. xH(2)O) and iron(III) hexamethylenedithiocarbamate (Fe(HMDTC)(3)) served as collectors. After flotation separation from the mother liquor, the solid s ublate containing nickel traces was dissolved and the analyte was determine d by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). All important p arameters necessary for the successful collection of nickel were checked. T he results of nickel ETAAS analysis in tap and spring waters were compared with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emis-sion spectrometric measurements (TCP-AES). The limit detection of nickel by the ETAAS method is 0.0078 mug /L.