DETERMINATION OF OSMIUM BY ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

A sensitive method has been developed for the measurement of osmium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. With the use of simply constructed apparatus, volatile osmium generated in a small furnace is pulsed into a nitrous oxide-acetylene flame, permitting levels of osmium down to 0.2 μg to be measured. A large range of concentrations has been tested for possible interferences. Where these exist, osmium should first be separated by distillation. For the determination of 5 μg of osmium, the method has a coefficient of variation of about 12%. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.