Separation of barium from associated elements using poly(dibenzo-18-crown-6)

Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Shivaji University,

Kolhapur-416 004, India

Manuscript received 12 June 1998, accepted 23 December 1998

A simple and elegant separation method for trace level barium has been developed using poly(dibenzo-18-crown-6) from HBr medium. Ba is quantitatively adsorbed 5.5-8.0 M HBr. From the column Ba is quantitatively eluted with 0.1-5.0 M HCI, 0.1-10.0 M acetic acid. It is possible to separate barium from most of the alkali and alkaline earth elements. The method was extended to the analysis of barium in various rock samples.