DETERMINATION OF TRACES OF SCANDIUM IN GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS BY PRECONCENTRATION

Preconcentration and ion-interaction chromatography of scandium have been worked out for the determination of scandium in geological materials. Scandium can be enriched by cation-exchange in thiocyanate - hydrochloric acid medium after wet decomposition of rock sample with hydrofluoric - perchloric acids. Subsequent ion-interaction chromatography in lactate medium allows scandium to be determined selectively and sensitively with post-column reaction detection with Arsenazo III. About 5 to 50 μg Sc/g of silicate rocks has been determined with good precision