The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Gravimetric test for determination Al and Pb % in Zinc Bath

Dear All:
can you please provide me with a chemical test (gravimetric) for determination of Al and Pb in zinc metal.
Salah Salman
- Cairo, Egypt
2006

---

2006

Sir,
Check out my articles in the magazine Metal Finishing.
(1)"Test for Lead in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Zinc" Metal Finishing pages 29-31 October 1991.
(2)"Aluminum Control in Galvanizing Kettle Zinc" Metal Finishing pages 61-63 March 1983.
Copies of both articles can be obtained from a large library though interlibrary loan for xerox charges.
A spectrophotometer (flame) in absorption mode using air as oxidizing agent is best for lead and in the emission mode using nitrous oxide is best for aluminum. A one gram sample of kettle zinc is dissolved in 40 mL of dilute nitric acid and compared with standards on both sides of the sample. ICP (Inductively coupled plasma) likely would work but I have no experience with ICP.
Regards,
Dr. Thomas H. Cook
Galvanizing Consultant - Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA