Determination of copper in laterite nickel ore by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The laterite nickel ore sample was decomposed with hydrochloric acid,nitric acid,hydrofluoric acid and perchloric acid.Then,in diluted nitric acid medium,the content of copper was determined on flame atomic absorption spectrometry at 324.8 nm.The background was deducted with deuterium lamp.Under optimized experimental conditions,the absorbance is linear with copper concentration in the range of 0.50-2.50 mg/L.The limit of determination was 0.057 mg/L.The recoveries obtained by standard addition method range from 91% to 103%.Copper content range from 0.01% to 0.50%,the equation of repeatability and reproducibility are r=0.114 8 m+0.003 2 and R=0.130 0 m+0.007 4.This method was applicable for the determination of laterite nickel ore with copper content of 0.01%-0.50%.