Determination of germanium(IV) in sulphide ores by differential pulse polarography in pyrogallol-sulfuric acid media

The evaluation of the polarographic response (dpp) of Ge(IV) in several sulfuric acid media containing pyrogallol allowed to establish optimum conditions for the reduction of this ion. In the media studied, the reduction of Ge(IV) provides a signal that can be used for quantitative analysis. This research led to a method for the determination of Ge(IV) in sulphide ores that involves sepatation of interferences by a liquid-liquid extraction technique. Using a static mercury drop electrode the method yielded a calculated detection limit of 3 × 10−8 M.