Abstract

A spectrographic method for the determination of various elements in urine and feces has been developed using the copper spark method. This study is concerned with the rapid determination of potassium whose analysis is carried out simultaneously with several elements. Since most of the sensitive lines of the various elements occur in the ultra violet region, the analysis of potassium had to be done in this region. The copper spark method eliminates the troublesome cyanogen spectra in the ultra violet thus enabling the use of the 4047.2 Å line of potassium for analysis. Reproducibility data are presented and the spectrographic method is compared to the conventional gravimetric perchlorate method. The results indicate fairly close correlation. The solution method has been used throughout this work and modified techniques in the handling of standard and analysis solution are described. This procedure is well adapted for the use in routine analysis of potassium in ashed urine and feces samples.

Spectrochemical Analysis by the Copper Spark Method*

Mark Fred, Norman H. Nachtrieb, and Frank S. Tomkins
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(4) 279-287 (1947)

The Spectrochemical Analysis of Copper Base Alloys*

Edwin K. Jaycox
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 35(2) 175-179 (1945)

Wide Range Analysis for Zinc Using Spectrographic Line Widths

E. John Eastmond and Bernice E. Williams
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 38(9) 800-803 (1948)

Spectrochemical Analysis of High Copper in Cast Iron and Steel

W. R. Kennedy
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(3) 154-158 (1947)

The Spectrographic Analysis of Ferro-Silicon

J. H. Coulliette
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(8) 609-613 (1947)