An Analytical Method of Ultra-Trace Tellurium for Samples of Sea- and Environmental-Water

This paper presents a method for the concentration of tellurium in sulfhydral cotton fiber. The mechanism of Te-Re catalytic polarographic behaviour has been studied. The optimal conditions of systems are proposed. An analytical procedure of preconcentration with sulfhydral cotton fiber and catalytic polarographic determination of ultra-trace tellurium is presented. This method exhibits good selectivity and is simple and easy. It is also one of the most sensitive analytical methods of tellurium at present. The procedure is demonstrated successfully for the determination of background levels of tellurium in a variety of natural water. This is the first reported determination of tellurium in sea water, filling a gap in the titerature of oceanic geochemistry. It was found that the content of tellurium in South China sea water is 8 × 10 −10 g/l, that in East China sea water is 4-7 × 10 −10 g/l.