X-ray fluorescence determination of pre-extracted aluminium and gallium in waste-waters

Abstract The extraction of aluminium and gallium into a molten commercial C 17 –C 20 fatty acid mixture without and with addition of di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid (DEHP) is described. Almost quantitative extraction is achieved within 3 min at about pH 1 with 0.15–0.6 mol l −1 DEHP in the fatty acid mixture for organic/aqueous phase ratios of 1:5–1:100. The solidified melts are suitable for x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The method is appropriate for waste-waters.