Determination of yttrium in zirconia matrices by atomic absorption spectrometry

A rapid method is described for determining yttrium in solutions containing a large excess of zirconium using atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples are analysed in nitric acid solution, using a spectrochemical buffer which consists of potassium-EDTA and lanthanum to effect maximum absorption. A standard additions technique, in which yttrium solution is added to the sample, is used to avoid the preparation of matrix matched standards. The yttrium absorbance is measured at 410.2 nm using a dinitrogen oxide-acetylene flame. Synthetic solutions show that the procedure is sufficiently accurate to be used for the routine determination of yttrium in refractory oxides containing up to 3 mol-% of Y2O3(5.7%m/m).