- P-ISSN 1225-0163
- E-ISSN 2288-8985
The separation of gallium and indium from the matrix elements such as zinc and other ions, especially form Fe(III) ion was studied for the determination of trace level of them in zinc ores and zinc blendes by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES). Gallium and indium were extracted from the sample solution with a solvent of tributyl phosphate(TBP). The type and concentration of acid, interferences of other ions, the ratio of aqueous phase to organic phase, TBP concentration, sripping efficiency were optimized for the effective extraction. Gallium and indium were separated from other ions in the 5N hydrochloric acid solution of the samples by the extraction with 100% TBP. In this time, Fe(III) was reduced to Fe(II) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride to prevent its coextraction prior to the main extraxtion. After stripped from organic phase by the back-extraction with 0.02N HCl, they were determined in the aqueous phase by ICP-AES. This method was known to be quantitative from the overall extraction of more than 95%.