Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Tantalum Boat for the Determination of Yttrium, Samarium, and Dysprodium in a Mish Metal

The determination of yttrium, samarium, and dysprodium by means of graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was studied by a tantalum boat inserted into a graphite tube atomizer. These elements could not be determined by the use of a commercial graphite tube. In the atomization from a tantalum boat, better analytical sensitivities and negligible memory effects for these rare earths are obtained. The analytical sensitivities of yttrium, samarium, and dysprodium with the tantalum boat were 0.60 ng, 0.86 ng, and 0.17 ng respectively. This method was applied for the determination of yttrium, samarium, and dysprodium in a mish metal. The measurements were performed with slightly acidified solutions (0.01 mol dm−3 HCl or HNO3). The sensitivities and the precisions for these elements decreased with increasing acid concentration. An enhancement in the sensitivities of yttrium and dysprodium upon the addition of a large excess of lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium salts were observed. The yttrium,...