Determination of osmium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A sensitive method has been developed for the measurement of Os by absorption spectrophotometry. With the use of simply constructed apparatus, volatile Os generated in a small furnace is pulsed into a nitrous oxide--acetylene flame, permitting levels of Os down to 0.2 mu g to be measured. A large range of concentrations has been tested for possible interferences. Where these exist, Os should first be separated by distillation. For the determination of 5 mu g of Os, the method has a coefficient of variation of approx 12%.7 refs.--AA