Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Determination of Arsenite–Cyanide and Carbonate–Cyanide Mixtures Using an On-Line Preconcentration Technique in a Flow System

Abstract Binary mixtures containing arsenite with cyanide and carbonate with cyanide were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in a flow system. The two anions present in a mixture were precipitated by a stream of silver ions and left to preconcentrate for two minutes in a Tygon tube containing small glass beads; then a solvent (acid solution) was passed which dissolved the precipitate other than silver cyanide, followed by an ammonia solution which dissolved the silver cyanide precipitate. The method is simple and precise and the throughput is ∼15 samples/hr.