Simultaneous determination of germanium, arsenic, tin and antimony by molecular emission cavity analysis after hydride generation and gas chromatographic separation

Arsenic (0.1-5 µg), antimony (1-40 µg), tin (0.5-10 µg) and germanium (0.2-10 µg) are determined simultaneously by reduction to their hydrides with sodium tetrahydroborate(III), followed by gas chromatographic separation on a column of 10% E-301 silicone gum rubber on Porapak Q, and measurement of the emissions at 490 nm in an oxygen/hydrogen flame within a cavity. Detection limits for 1-ml samples are 35 ng As, 400 ng Sb, 85 ng Sn and 100 ng Ge. A more sensitive determination of arsenic (0.05-3 µg) and antimony (0.1-5 µg) in binary mixtures is also described; the detection limits are 15 ng As and 40 ng Sb. © 1985.