Abstract
Trace amounts of copper and iron in sea water and common salt were determined by atomicabsorption spectrophotometry in conjunction with solvent extraction technique. Both metals reacted with 5-chloro-salicylaldoxime (5-CL·ESA) to form complexes which could be extracted into chloroform and then adversely extracted with hydrochloric acid into aqueous phase. The resulted solution was sprayed into an acetylene-air flame. The effect of pH, amount of 5-CL·ESA, shaking time on the extraction of metals were examined. Good recoveries of metals added to artificial sea water and sea water samples were demonstrated. Coefficients of variation obtained were 1.5 for copper and 2.8% for iron.
