The determination of titanium in titaniferous magnetite ores by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

Amos and Willis (1) first investigated the use of nitrous oxide for the determination of titanium. They found that the presence of HF and iron enhance the absorption of titanium. They recommended “much more extensive investigation before a practicing chemical analyst can determine this element in a routine fashion by atomic absorption.” Various authors (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) have investigated titanium by atomic absorption and have recommended a number of different procedures to remove interference. In attempting to analyze lithium metaborate fusions (7, 8) of titaniferous magnetite ores of Alaska by atomic absorption, it was found that the interferences are not completely removed by any single approach suggested in the literature. Silicon, iron and aluminum could vary widely between samples and an approach was needed that would completely eliminate interference effects of all these elements, without having to match the gross matrix composition of samples and standards.