Determination of platinum and palladium in dead catalysts using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after sample digestion by high-temperature fusion

A technique for the determination of platinum and palladium in dead catalysts using ICP-AES after sample digestion by high-temperature fusion with potassium pyrosulfate is described. The technique is universal; it offers the possibility to analyze various brands of catalysts and their mixtures at a content of platinum and palladium of 0.1% to whole units of percent in a short time. The accuracy of results of determination of platinum and palladium is confirmed by comparison with the data of interlaboratory control. The relative standard deviation in the developed technique is 4–2.5% for the content of platinum and palladium of 0.1 to 0.5% and 2–1% for higher concentrations of these elements.