A General Technique for Heteropolyanion Analysis Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Gravimetry

A method using ICP-AES for the quantitative analysis of B, Si, Ge, P and Mo and atomic absorption spectroscopy for Na in a series of heteropolytungstates is described. The two-step procedure involves estimating the W composition of the polytungstate by a classical method and use of an analyte solution of comparable W content to the standard solutions in ICP-AES and AAS. This procedure minimizes interelement interferences and offers comparable precision to classical procedures. The method is more general than has been previously reported for the ICP-AES of B, Si, Ge. P and Mo in heteropolyanion formulations. Estimations of the W content of heteropolyanions by this procedure were less successful. The limitations of the method are discussed.