Radiometric trace analysis of cobalt with diethyldithiocarbamate-35S, or 203Hg

Abstract

Two radiometric methods for the determination of submugram amounts of cobalt are described. (A) Cobalt is extracted from an ammoniacal solution with a zinc-diethyldithiocarbamate-35S solution in chloroform. Excess reagent and interfering metals are removed with mercury(II) and cyanide. The 35S in the final organic layer is a measure of the cobalt in this layer. (B) Cobalt is extracted from an ammoniacal solution with a fixed amount of zinc-DDC in chloroform. Excess reagent and complexes of foreign metals are removed by exchange with 203Hg+2 and the 203Hg in the chloroform (compared with a blank) acts as a measure of the cobalt. Method A is applicable to 0.1 μg of cobalt and method B to 0.8 μg. As the efficiency of both processes is variable, isotope dilution with 60Co is carried out, A 10-fold excess of foreign metals is permitted in method A and a 4-fold excess in method B ; larger amounts are previously removed, e.g. by extraction with inactive zinc-DDC from sodium hydroxide media.