Direct Determination of Tin as Cassiterite (Sno2) and Total Tin in Soil Samples by Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Nahid Pourreza^1*, Jila Azad² and Akram Karimy-Tabriz³

¹Chemistry Department, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz (Iran) ²Chemistry Department, Al-Zahra University, Tehran (Iran) ³Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran (Iran)

Direct determination of tin in oil samples by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The samples were melted with NH4I for the determination of tin as cassiterite (SnO2) and fused with LiBO2 flux for total tin. The factors affecting the generation of tin hydride and instrumental parameters were studied and optimum conditions were established. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 5-100 ng ml-1. The detection limit was 2 ng ml-1. The method was applied to the determination of total tin and cassiterite in soil samples from Shahkuh, south of Birjand, Iran. It was found that cassiterite forms 65-75% of total tin.

Hydride generation; Atomic absorption spectrometry, Tin; Cassiterite