For the determination of microamounts of selenium (010 μg) in pure iron, the extraction procedure was studied to separate selenium from iron as follows.
One tenth gram of sample is dissolved in 3 m
l of HNO
3 (1+1) and 1 m
l of HClO
4 (60%) and evaporated to white fumes. The solution is placed into a separatory funnel with 20 m
l of the mixed acid (HCl 3, HNO
3 2, H
2O 4) and shaken vigorously with 20 m
l of methylisobutylketone for about one minute. The lower layer is separated to a beaker and heated to white fumes after adding 2 m
l of HClO
4. Thirty m
l of water, 3 m
l of formic acid (2.5
M) and 5 m
l of EDTA solution (5%) are added and the pH of the solution is adjusted to 2.32.7 with NH
4OH (1+1). After 2 m
l of 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine solution (0.5%) is added, the solution is boiled for about half a minute. After cooling, the pH is adjusted from 6 to 7 with NH
4OH (1 +1), the solution is immediately placed into a separatory funnel and shaken with 5.00 m
l of toluene for about one minute. Selenium is determined by measuring absorbance of the organic layer at 420 mμ against toluene.
Twenty micrograms each of Al, As, B, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sn, Ta, Ti, V, W, and Zn do not interfere. From 0.01 to 10 μg of selenium in pure iron was determined within about half an hour.
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