Spectrophotometric determination of tellurium in trace quantities by use of an ion-association complex

The formation of an ion-association complex by the interaction of iodotellurate(IV) with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide is used as the basis of an extractive procedure to determine tellurium in the range 2.5-12.5 μg in a final aqueous phase volume of 20 ml. The method is simple, reliable and sensitive. Selectivity is achieved by separation of tellurium on aluminium hydroxide as collector. © 1979.