Spectrophotometric catalytic determination of small amounts of rhenium in mineralized rocks and molybdenite

Open-File Report 62-126
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Abstract

Rhenium is determined by spectrophotometry of the tellurium sol formed by the reduction of tellurate by stannous chloride under the catalytic influence of rhenium. A detailed investigation of the conditions for high sensitivity and stability at lowest concentration levels of rhenium is presented as well as the behavior of twenty-six ions. The method is applied to the determination of some tenths of a part per million or more of rhenium in a milligram aliquot of mineralized rocks, mixtures of molybdenite and rocks, and molybdenite concentrates. The practical quantity limit of detection is 2 x 10-10 gram of rhenium. Samples are decomposed with a mixture of calcium oxide, calcium chloride, and magnesium oxide. On leaching, the constituents of the sample are precipitated either as calcium salts or as hydroxides except for rhenium and a small amount of molybdenum which pass into the filtrate. Residual molybdenum is removed extraction with 8-quinolinol in chloroform. Better than ninety-five percent recoveries are obtained with two fusions with flux.

Suggested Citation

Simon, F.O., 1962, Spectrophotometric catalytic determination of small amounts of rhenium in mineralized rocks and molybdenite: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 62-126, 50 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr62126.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Spectrophotometric catalytic determination of small amounts of rhenium in mineralized rocks and molybdenite
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 62-126
DOI 10.3133/ofr62126
Year Published 1962
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 50 p.
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