Reversed-phase extraction chromatographic separation of zinc(II) with trioctylphosphine oxide

A new method for extraction chromatographic separation of zinc (II) was developed with Trioctylphosphine oxide as the stationary phase and nitric acid as mobile phase on silica gel as stationary support. Zinc was extracted from 2.5 M hydrochloric acid and then stripped with 4 M nitric acid and determined spectrophotometrically at 460 nm by murexide method. Zinc was separated from alkali, alkaline earths, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, mercury, lead, trivalent rare earths, platinum group metals from binary mixtures by selective extraction of zinc. Zinc is also separated from multicomponent mixtures. The method was extended for the analysis of zinc in alloys and industrial sample.