Abstract
Lithium contained in sea water was determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry by using air-hydrogen flame. Sodium, potassium and chloride ions so significantly interfered the absorption of lithium that the precise result could not be obtained even when the calibration curve was constructed by addition of lithium standards. Lithium was separated from other alkali metals by extracting the chloride salt with iso-amyl alcohol, and the resulting organic solution was sprayed into the flame. The sensitivity of this procedure was comparatively low, but the reproducibility was much better than in case aqueous solution was used. Thus, more accurate results were obtained. Some sea-water samples were analized, and their lithium content was found to be about 140μg/1 in coastal and 170μg/1 in open sea water.
